The Code of Conduct Bureau has raked up alleged rot belonging to the Distinguished Sen. Bukola Saraki in the last 12 years before he became Senate president of the eighth National Assembly.
In a 13-count charge slammed at Saraki before the CCB tribunal Wednesday, the bureau claims the No 3 citizen ambitiously declared his asset in 2003 and 2007 when he was Kwara’s governor, and in 2011 when he came to the Senate.
The charge sheet marked CCT/ABJ/01/16 states in part: “…You claimed to have owned and acquired No15 A and 15 B MacDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos, through your company Cailisle Properties Ltd in the year 2000 when the said property was in actual fact sold by the implementation Committee on Federal Government Properties Ltd in the year 2006 to your company Tiny-Tee Ltd and Vitti Oil Ltd for the aggregate sum ofN396, 150,000.”
For that, Saraki, the bureaus says, committed an offence under section 15 of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C 15 of the Law of the Federation of Nigeria.
In 2011 when he hit the upper chamber, Saraki, the bureau charges again, refused to declare a landed property located at Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, to the bureau as the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution demands.
Saraki acquired the said property between 2007 and 2008 of his second term as governor.
His media office has, however, responded, claiming that charge is the handiwork of Saraki’s enemies and those of the office he occupies, and their principal will meet the bureau in court.
“We therefore conclude that this is not an anti-corruption driven case and cannot be part of the moves aimed at fighting corruption,” the Senate president said in a press release Wednesday.
The statementfurther noted the origin of the charge is not known yet because the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act indicates any prosecution must be authorised by the attorney-general of the federation.
“We know the nation last had an AG in May 2015. This is another clear indication that the CCT is acting under influence from outside its domain and therefore ready to bend the rules to achieve this obnoxious objective,” the media office said.
Saraki’s prosecution, if it ever happens, will be the first time the CCB many consider passive will ruck up a public office holder, especially in the National Assembly.