By Our Reporters

Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was summoned by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, over the foreign bank accounts he held during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, has said that his trial scheduled to commence tomorrow was politically motivated.

The Bureau, in a statement issued Monday however, denied that it embarked on a witch-hunt against Tinubu, stressing that his summon to appear for trial tomorrow was not politically motivated.

Tinubu had alleged that his summon was an attempt by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to silence the opposition.

Tinubu who spoke with reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, explained that he was not a stranger to political persecution, as he was slammed with a treason charge during the dark days of military dictatorship of the General Sani Abacha era.

Describing his appearance before the Bureau as ill-timed, Tinubu said he would not lose any sleep over the issue, because the timing, several years after he left office, was enough indication that the ruling party was looking for a scapegoat to silence opposition.

He urged the ruling party to learn from the revolution in Middle East countries like Libya, where the 42 years rule of Colonel Mauamar Ghadafi, had been challenged by the people.

But CCB in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, insisted that, “the case of Ex-Governor Asiwaju Tinubu started in May 2007 before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Therefore it has no political undertone. The case was only put on hold because investigation was on going.

“In addition to the above, the attention of the Bureau had been drawn to the fact that some political office holders and public servants were in the habit of not submitting their assets declaration forms after collection.

“The Bureau wishes to remind all public office holders and public servants to endeavour to complete and submit their assets declaration forms within 30 days of collection to avoid appearing before the Tribunal for prosecution.” The statement was signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of the CCB, Mrs Iyabo Akinwale.