I was a Superintendent of Police and staff officer to the Inspector-General of Police That fateful day I arrived at work quite early as usual and began to draft memos on various security issues across the country that required directives from the IGP.
At about 11a.m. PSO to the IGP opened the door to our office. I looked up and saw him As I got up to pay compliments he fixed his gaze on me and said “Come”.
My pen was in my hand. I picked a jotter and followed him. He passed the door to his office and headed for IGP’s office.
We were ushered in immediately. IGP was alone. He looked up as we came to attention then crossed the expansive office to where he was seated.
“Adeoye” he said. “Sir” I answered and he continued. I want you to handle this investigation. He handed a petition to me and turned to the PSO. Do not contact the Governor. The investigation must be very discreet.
Ha! Governor ke? Who could that be? Done with the IGP we went to the PSO’s office. He asked me to sit down and read the petition. I did.
The petition was written by one of those contesting against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who wanted to go for second term as Governor of Lagos State. Petitioner alleged that the Governor was convicted in the USA for heroine trafficking and as such was unfit to hold public office. He requested that he be disqualified from contesting the primaries for the Governoship election. The petition was addressed to the Chairman of the the Party, I think Alliance for Democracy, AD.
It was the party chairman who forwarded the petition to the IGP for investigation. He stated in his letter that the party could not risk fielding a candidate against whom such serious allegation had been raised without verifying the allegation. He feared that the party might win the election and later lose in court if the allegations turned out to be true.
In compliance with IGP’s directive, we did not contact the then Governor. Within an hour my letter to the Americam Embassy was ready. A copy of the petition was attached. PSO signed for IGP. The Embassy was requested to forward same to FBI for investigation and to furnish us with a report as early as possible.
To ensure there was no leakage, I took the letter addressed to the Ambassador myself to American Embassy for despatch. Then we waited.
Two weeks later the reply arrived. A full investigation report by the FBI.
The agency stated emphatically that the then Governor of Lagos State had never been convicted of any crime in the United States and therefore had no criminal record.
It added that there was a civil forfeiture proceedings in which sum of $460,000 dollars thought to be suspicious was forfeited to US Government. The report added that on being notified of the proceedings by his American Attorney then Governor Tinubu flew into US to challenge the action. But it was too late. However about one million dollars in other accounts which were to be forfeited were then released to him after he satisfactorily prove that the funds were earned legitimately.
I was so touched by the courage of the then Governor to have gone to US to challenge the action. PSO and I took the letter to the IGP. He read it and directed we forward it to Chairman of the Party in Lagos.
We were not to give any advice or opinion. IGP said the party had a legal adviser and will advise the party as appropriate.
I put up a covering letter and sent the letter from the FBI to Chairman of AD in Lagos.
Fast forward to the last general election same allegations surfaced again and it broke my heart. An innocent man was being defamed left right and center. In my heart I knew all the labelling will come to nought as I had first hand details on the matter.
It is instructive that the President has taken all the mudslinging in his stride. He said it was his right to be insulted!
But there was this guy that called the President a criminal. If prosecution is diligent he will certainly be jailed at the end of the day. The onus is on him to provide record of conviction of the President. If he fail to do so he will join a certain citizen of particular concern in Sokoto.
Professor Sandra Chidinma Duru
