The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) has said that the former Lagos State governor and the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu was already wealthy before holding public office.
Sagay said this in a reaction to calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Tinubu over a bullion van seen conveying cash to his home on the eve of the 2019 election.
Sagay noted, however, that Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, had in the past, used his personal money to help some politicians in the past.
“Tinubu was already very rich before he became governor. He is not a man who became rich after he joined the government,”.
“He worked in the petroleum sector. I recalled that during the course of his fight with Abacha, he had to escape for his life in order to join so many other people like Anthony Enahoro, Wole Soyinka and many other pro-democracy activists.
“Tinubu was the one funding quite a lot of the organisations and those staying abroad. So, he has always been a man of means.
“It will be ridiculous that having come back to the country, won’t he invest his money into various ventures? So, no one should be surprised that he is a rich man.
“All I know is that he is rich from his own hard work, investments and therefore, he should be given the benefit of the doubt instead of being subjected to the persecution which some people want him to be subjected to.”
Newsflash247 had earlier reported that Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), snubbed a question on the petition against Bola Tinubu over alleged cash-laden bullion vans linked to him.
Tinubu is the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In February, viral pictures on social media showed two bullion vans being driven into Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence in Lagos on the eve of the presidential election.
The APC leader said the money in the vans was his and not ballot papers or money for vote-buying as alleged by some Nigerians.
“Excuse me, is it my money or government money? So, even if I have money to spend in my premises, what is your headache?” he said.
“Excuse me, if I don’t represent any agency of government and I have money to spend, if I have money, if I like, I give it to the people free of charge. As long as not to buy votes.”
On October 5, Deji Adeyanju, an activist, petitioned the EFCC, asking the agency to probe the matter.
“We know they won’t take any action but we will submit the petition,” Adeyanju said in a Facebook post.
Speaking with journalists on Friday at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, Magu avoided questions regarding the petition.
“You want me to talk about a petition here? Next question, please,” he said.
