Saraki charged with ‘false declaration of assets’

The Code of Conduct Bureau has filed a 13-count charge against Senate President Bukola Saraki for false declaration of assets.

The bureau, which filed the charges on September 11, said the senate president failed to declare all his assets and also made an “anticipatory asset declaration”, while he was governor of Kwara state in 2003.

The anticipatory asset declaration is believed to be done with the intention of “looting in the future”.

It also accused Saraki of operating foreign accounts and using state funds to acquire property, which was not declared.

According to the charge sheet,  Count One  read: ” That you Dr Bukola Saraki whilst being the executive governor of Kwara state on or about 16 September 2003 within the jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal did make a false declaration in the assets declaration form for public officers on assumption of office as governor of Kwara state by making an anticipatory asset declaration in that you claimed to have owned and acquired No 15A & 15B McDonald Ikoyi, Lagos through your company Carlisle Properties limited in the year 2000 when the said government property was in actual fact sold by the implementation committee of federal government landed properties in the year 2006 to your companies Tiny Trees Limited and Vitti Oil for the aggregate sum of N396, 150, 000, and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, and incorporated under paragraphs  11 (1) & (2) of part 1 fifth schedule of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23 (2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1, fifth schedule of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

Saraki has been facing “disguised” and open opposition since his emergence as the senate president on June 9.

He and Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, were accused of becoming presiding officers on the strength of forging the standing rule book of the senate.

The case challenging their leadership is still in court.

Also, his wife, Toyin Saraki, is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corruption and money laundering.

When TheCable contacted Yusuf Olaniyonu, special adviser on media to the senate president, he simply said a formal media statement would be issued “soon”.