Bullion vans sighted at the residence of Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, on the eve of the 2019 presidential election were empty, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayodele Adewale, has said.
Two bulletproof trucks mostly used by banks to convey large sums of money were seen entering the residence of Mr Tinubu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the ruling party.
Confirming the multimedia reports of the development at the time, the Lagos politician while briefing reporters, weeks after, claimed that the money in the bullion vans were his alone and he could do whatever he wishes to do with it.
The APC candidate whose source of stupendous wealth remains unknown said he could not be accused of looting because he is not a government employee.
In the country, conveying large sums of money above N5 million without going through financial institutions are deemed financial crimes. Petitions from Nigerians, including civil society organisations, calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the former governor is yet to receive the needed attention.
Maintaining he was right in his assertion on the subject matter during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, Mr Adewale claimed the bullion vans were empty, a stark departure from Mr Tinubu’s confirmation.
“On the other question of bullion vans or no bullion vans and all of that, I think that matter has been put to rest,” he said. “There was no money in the bullion van. The bullion van that even came missed the address to have come there.”
While claiming that he was at the residence when the trucks arrived, the Lagos State organising secretary of the ruling party said Mr Tinubu was joking when he confirmed the contents of the trucks.
