Code Of Conduct Bureau Charges Senate President Saraki Over False Declaration Of Assets

Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau has filed charges against Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for alleged failure to fully declare his assets.

The tribunal’s 13-count charge accuses Mr. Saraki, among other crimes, of improperly using state funds to purchase private assets during his tenure as the governor of Kwara State while he was senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Senate President was also accused of declaring as part of his assets a property that had not been sold to him, a maneuver that is known as “anticipatory looting” in Nigeria’s political lexicon.

The charge was filed on September 11, 2015 Deputy Director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, M.S Hassan.

Among other charges, Saraki was accused of making false declaration of assets on assumption of office as Kwara State Governor in 2003.
Saraki was also accused of not declaring some assets he acquired while in office, acquiring assets beyond his official earnings and operating foreign accounts in contravention of the law as a public officer.

Mr. Saraki’s wife, Toyin Saraki, is being investigated for money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but charges are yet to be filed against her by the agency.

Some excerpts of the text of the charge sheet follows: