Senate President Bukola Saraki (Image from Internet)
Abuja (IINA) – Nigeria's third most powerful politician went on trial on Tuesday over accusation of falsely declaring assets when he was a state governor, Reuters reported.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, a member of the ruling party who heads the upper house of parliament, has pleaded not guilty to the charges relating to when he was governor of the central Nigerian state of Kwara from 2003 to 2011.
Since being elected last year, President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a crackdown on graft which has held most Nigerians in poverty despite the country's energy wealth.
Saraki's lawyers sought to stop the trial by arguing that the attorney general had no power to mount a case against him. He said on Tuesday he was confident he would be exonerated if the trial was conducted fairly.
The 13 charges he faces mostly relate to the ownership of land held by his company Carlisle Properties Ltd during that period. Other allegations include transferring $3.4 million to an account outside Nigeria while he was governor, and sending 1.5 million pounds to a European account to cover a mortgage for a London property.
If found guilty, Saraki would be removed as Senate president, barred from holding any public office for up to 10 years and could be jailed. Responding to those allegations, Saraki said in statement he had declared all assets in line with the law.
AB/IINA
No comments:
Post a Comment