Sunday, August 23, 2026

Tinubu’s background claim at Chatham House contradicts sworn affidavit to INEC

The APC presidential candidate told the audience that Deloitte, which he joined in 1983, taught him accounting, and not Arthur Andersen.

• December 5, 2022
Bola Tinubu [Credit: BAT]
Bola Tinubu [Credit: BAT]

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu claims that one of the Big Four accounting firms in the world, Deloitte, trained him to be an accountant, a statement that is inconsistent with the information contained in his sworn affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) earlier in the year.

Mr Tinubu in his affidavit to the electoral commission, said he became a certified accountant in 1979 and worked at Arthur Andersen firm for years before joining Deloitte in 1983.

However, judging by his speech at the Chatham House in London Monday afternoon, Mr Tinubu boasted that Deloitte, which he joined in 1983, was the firm that taught him accounting and that the private sector was where he attained the peak of his career.

“Deloitte trained me as an accountant. Mobil has attested to my record. I got to the pinnacle of my career in the private sector,” the former Lagos governor boastfully said. “Who among them can brag about that?”

Meanwhile, the work experience records submitted to INEC and seen by Peoples Gazette, showed that Mr Tinubu obtained his certification in public accounting in 1979, worked in Arthur Andersen accounting firm for some years before proceeding to Deloitte Haskins and Sells in 1983. 

In 1986, the former Lagos governor moved to Mobil Oil Corporation where he worked in the General Audit department before getting an upgrade to the position of a treasurer in the same firm between 1988 and 1992, Mr Tinubu’s sworn affidavit showed.

Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu’s campaign aide did not immediately reply to messages seeking clarification on his principal’s contradictory statements.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Armed policemen

States

32-year-old kidnap victim rescued in Edo

The police spokesperson said efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.

Public secondary school students

NationWide

Nigeria urged to shift from  certificate-driven education to skills-based learning

Mr Agwale said technology could help expand access to quality education, particularly in underserved and rural communities.

Liverpool and Newcastle.

Heading 2

Liverpool snatch late 2-2 against Newcastle United in EPL opener

Anthony Elanga took the lead for the Magpies in just five minutes into the game off a brilliant assist from Willam Osula.

Donald Duke and the coastal highway.

Heading 1

PRP presidential candidate Duke tackles Tinubu for starting Lagos-Calabar coastal highway from VI instead of Badagry

Mr Duke said, “President Tinubu is my friend. See, I like his guts. I admit it. He’s a determined person.”

Armed policemen in Benue State.

States

Police nab female suspected gunrunner, recover ammunition in Delta

The disclosure was made in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, on Sunday.