Presidential Tribunal: Finally, Tinubu Admits Dual Citizenship Allegation As Lawyer Makes Crucial Demand

Presidential Tribunal: Finally, Tinubu Admits Dual Citizenship Allegation As Lawyer Makes Crucial Demand

  • The legal team of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has admitted that their client had a dual citizenry of Guinea and Nigeria
  • This fact was established before the five-member panel at the presidential election petition tribunal in Abuja
  • However, the counsel to President Tinubu is calling for the dismissal of the petition because his client's citizenry passport expired in 2020

FCT, Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has admitted before the presidential election petition tribunal of having dual citizenship of Nigeria and Guinea.

As reported by the Nigerian Tribune, President Tinubu admitted to this allegation through his lawyer Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

Tinubu, Tribunal, Obi, Labour Party
It was confirmed that the Labour Party filed the petition of dual citizenship against President Bola Tinubu. Photo Credit: Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Mr Peter Obi
Source: Facebook

Olanipekun, however, told the court that the Guinea citizenry passport of President Tinubu had expired as far back as 2020.

He argued that the passport presented by the petitioners holds no solid basis for his client to be prosecuted.

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Tinubu's lawyer calls for dismissal of Labour Party's petition

Olanipekun further urged the 5-member panel tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the Labour Party seeking President Tinubu's ouster from office.

He accused the petitioner of deliberately attempting to embarrass the President instead of presenting a solid case and evidence.

He said:

“Lastly, the PW27 tendered Exhibit PBF4 (Guinean passport), which as usual, he claimed to have downloaded from the internet, purportedly representing the data pages of the respondent’s Guinean passport, which ex facie shows that the passport expired in 2020. It is all guesswork, aimed at embarrassing the respondent.”

Tinubu’s claim comes in response to challenges to his victory in the February 25 presidential election by the LP and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The petitioners allege that Tinubu is ineligible to hold the president’s office due to his dual citizenship in Nigeria and Guinea.

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They accuse Tinubu of failing to disclose pertinent information regarding his constitutional qualifications in his Form EC9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which goes against the provisions of the law.

The petitioners argue that Tinubu was constitutionally disqualified from running for president.

Labour Party Replies President Tinubu On Claim That His Removal From Office Will Lead to Anarchy

Meanwhile, Labour Party (LP) has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the country won't have anarchy if he is removed from office.

LP national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said Tinubu's claim is an act of desperation for a matter still at the tribunal.

Ifoh said there are no sentiments in law and no shortcut to becoming president after failing to secure 25% of the valid votes in FCT.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Segun Adeyemi avatar

Segun Adeyemi (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Segun Adeyemi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience as an active field reporter, editor, and editorial manager. He has had stints with Daily Trust newspaper, Daily Nigerian, and News Digest. He currently works as an editor for Legit.ng's current affairs and politics desk. He holds a degree in Mass Communication (Adekunle Ajasin University). He is a certified digital reporter by Reuters, AFP and the co-convener of the annual campus journalism awards. Email: segun.adeyemi@corp.legit.ng.