A group identified as the Lawyers Network for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (LANBAT) has stated that the drug trafficking allegation against the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no substance.
Sufyanu Sai’du, co-convener of LANBAT while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday said the APC has provided a clear manifesto, adding that Nigerians should not fall for opportunists.
He further stated that rather than focus on issues, Tinubu’s opponents have resorted to defamatory statements.
According to Sai’du, the allegation that Tinubu was linked to drug trafficking in the past “has no substance in law at all”.
“However, there is an appalling trend which has over the years characterized our politics during every election, and obviously 2023 will not be an exception,” the lawyer said.
“We have a society that deviates and gets distracted from issue-based campaigns but pursues frivolities over purpose and we may often subject ourselves to more ridicule before the international community.
“As we draw closer to the election, we are confident that it is only Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Shettima amongst other major contenders that have had direct engagement with all the sections that are crucial to our society.
“Laughably and pitiably, one of the candidates has told the world that his manifesto is in his head even in less than a 100 days to the election.”
On his part, Olalekan Adeshina, co-convener of the group, said Nigerians should not dwell on non-issues.
“If you are not a lawyer, you ask lawyers to explain things to you. The case was not against the person of Bola Tinubu, it was a tax matter,” Adeshina said.
“We know you cannot convict somebody without a charge number and until now, the individual claiming to have investigated the matter has not been able to convince Nigerians that Tinubu was a defendant in the so-called case.”
Also speaking, Adedotun Ajulo, a lawyer, said citizens should resort to the courts instead of blackmail.
“The limitation we have is that when a matter is pending before the court, it is no longer right for you to adjudicate upon it,” Ajulo said.
“So, we encourage the people that if they have any issues, rather than resort to blackmail and name-calling they should visit the court.”
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