Fresh Trouble Looms Ahead May 29, CSO File Case Against Tinubu Over Alleged Guinean Citizenship

A federal high court in Abuja has been asked to order the Nigeria Police Force to investigate and prosecute Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, before his inauguration on May 29.

In a motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/669/2023 and filed on Tuesday, the incorporated trustees of Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI), a civil society group, claims that Tinubu lied on oath when he refused to give information regarding his alleged Guinean citizenship in his Form EC9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Shortly after Tinubu was declared the president-elect, there were reports that he allegedly obtained citizenship of Guinea sometimes ago.

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The allegation generated varied reactions on social media, with many arguing that having dual citizenship bars Tinubu from contesting elections in the country.

Tinubu’s relationship with Alpha Conde, the former president of Guinea, has also come under scrutiny.

TheCable in April reported that Ousmane Yara, a Guinean ambassador to African Union (AU) for Agenda 2063, said Tinubu was recognized by Conde as a special envoy.

However, Tinubu is yet to make any remark on the issue.

In the suit by ASRADI, the civil society group through its counsel, Chukwunweike Okafor, is praying the court to grant leave to apply for an order compelling Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, to prosecute Tinubu if found culpable of perjury regarding his alleged Guinean citizenship.

Citing relevant provisions of the Nigerian constitution and the Police Act in an affidavit of urgency, Okafor said the police have a statutory duty to investigate Tinubu for the alleged offence.

In the affidavit sworn to by Adeolu Oyinlola, executive director of ASRADI, the applicant urged the court to hear and determine the request “before the swearing-in of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29 2023″.