The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked claims that it had commenced investigations into allegations of criminal forfeiture against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu had come under serious attack lately following the release of documents suggesting that some funds belonging to him were seized by the United States Government in 1989 for being proceeds of drug trafficking.
Since Friday, a press release purported to have been issued by INEC had surfaced online, claiming that the Commission has commenced an investigation into the case of criminal forfeiture against Tinubu.
The letter said the commission was liaising with a court in the United States to determine a possible violation of Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022.
But on Saturday, INEC stated categorically that the said press release did not emanate from it, neither is it pursuing any investigation against the APC candidate.
“It is the handiwork of mischief makers and utterly fake,” a statement by the INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, read.
Okoye stated that statements from the Commission are always uploaded to the INEC Press Corps platform “and simultaneously disseminated through our website and official social media handles.”
He advised the public to ignore the press release.
Fake statement
The fake statement which went viral on Saturday evening was titled, “Certified True Copy of Order of Criminal Forfeiture against APC Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the United States” and dated November 11, 2022.
it reads; “Our attention has been drawn to the recently released certified true copy of an order of criminal forfeiture granted against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress by the United States Court of Northern Illinois district dated 23rd July 1993.
“The order borders on issues of criminal forfeiture of funds linked to narcotics smuggling conspiracy and money laundering. We are currently liaising with the Northern Illinois District Court in order to establish more facts about the case before taking a decision.
“We are also studying the judgment in order to determine whether offences which contradict the INEC guidelines and Electoral Act 2022 has been committed.
“We endeavour to expedite the process and shall communicate the results of our findings together with our decision to the general public within ten working dates from today’s date”.
