Due To Tinubu's Drug-related Forfeiture In The Us, Obi & Lp Are Attempting To Disqualify Him - Effiong - Legitvibes ✦ Updated & Recommended

The attempt by and the Labour Party (LP) to disqualify President Bola Tinubu based on a 1993 drug-related forfeiture in the United States was a central point of legal contention in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election petitions. Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong noted that this issue would lead to "interesting litigation," highlighting the potential for significant legal debate over Tinubu's eligibility. Core Legal Arguments

The petitioners argued that Tinubu was disqualified under Section 137 (1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution because he had forfeited $460,000 to the U.S. government, which they characterized as a fine for an offense involving dishonesty, specifically narcotics trafficking. The attempt by and the Labour Party (LP)

On September 6, 2023, the Presidential Election Petitions Court struck out this ground of the petition. government, which they characterized as a fine for

The Labour Party, along with its presidential candidate in ... - Facebook - Facebook Tinubu's legal team maintained that the

Tinubu's legal team maintained that the $460,000 was a civil forfeiture , not a criminal conviction. They argued that he was never indicted, arraigned, or sentenced in any U.S. court, and the forfeiture was a settlement related to funds in specific accounts rather than a personal criminal penalty. Judicial Rulings

This ruling was later affirmed, effectively ending the bid to disqualify the president on these specific grounds. Recent Developments

The court ruled that the petitioners failed to prove a criminal conviction. The judges held that the Illinois court order was for a civil matter and did not establish that Tinubu had been tried or sentenced for a crime.