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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.

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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.

 

Recall that Ousmane Yara, a Guinean
ambassador to African Union (AU) for Agenda 2063, said Tinubu was recognised 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.

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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 292023″.