CCB Queries Adoke Over Tinubu's Case File In EFCC's Custody
ABUJA, May 30, (THEWILL) - The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has expressed reservations on how its case file on former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bolaji Ahmed Tinubu got to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The bureau said the means through the EFCC got the file is still a mirage to it, saying the Office of Attorney General of the Federation must explain how it obtained the file from the CCB.
The bureau's South West Federal Commissioner, Dr. Ademola Adebo said the AGF, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke should explain how he obtained the case file from the bureau before he passed it on to the EFCC adding that the CBB did not officially release the case file.
At a session with journalists in Lagos, Adebo, who visited Lagos last week with other members of a 7-man panel on a mission to verify assets of the politically exposed persons in the state, said the CCB could not conclude its investigations into Tinubu’s foreign accounts because of the immunity he enjoyed while he was governor of Lagos State.
“There was a case in the bureau while Tinubu was Lagos State Governor. The case then was a case of foreign accounts. The case went before the Code of Conduct Tribunal and somehow it was inconclusive due to the fact that he had immunity then," Adebo stated.
He said that the bureau was aware of media reports claiming that Adoke had taken the case file to the EFCC, and wondered how he got it as the bureau was yet to officially release it to the EFCC or the AGF.
“What has to be clarified here is whether the said case file is that of the EFCC or CCB. But remember that the information we collate are constitutionally protected. We do not have the power to give it out to anyone or any organization.
“If the Attorney General is claiming that the CCB gave him the file, he has to explain how he obtained it. One of our problems is that people occupying offices want to use the office to gain popularity rather than build that office to become a stronger institution. We will rather strengthen our individual position rather than the office,” he added.
Adebo however said Tinubu’s case was inconclusive.
On whether the case would be reopened, Adebo said, “the case could be reopened. But if the case can be reopened, it will have to be reopened only by the prerogative of the bureau not by either bowing to the public pressure or because of the need to do justice in the matter.
"It is not only Tinubu. We have so many pending or inconclusive cases. But now that we have a full complement of the Bureau, we are now looking at all those pending cases and asking ourselves the possibility of reopening the cases," he said.
The commissioner also noted that the bureau had not addressed that issue because it wanted all political air surrounding it to die down first, and after, “the case gets to the CCT, then the Attorney General can take over."
He however acknowledged the AGF's constitutional power to withdraw or take over any case in the country, saying, “But he cannot take over my own constitutional power because the bureau, CCB is not under the Attorney General. If he tries to do that, we will go to court and seek judicial interpretation."
He added that, “the bureau is an autonomous body and only the National Assembly has oversight power over us. So if, the Attorney General said he has taken over the case from the EFCC, he has the right to do so. But that cannot be done in the name of CCB.”
THEWILL tried to get a reaction from the now former Attorney General, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke but was unsuccessful.