in , ,

Rattled! Saraki faces impeachment as his trial versus CCB is adjourned to October 21: ‘Those angry I am senate president behind my trial’ -he bites back

– legal practitioners react, ’We don’t see it ending well for him’

In a classic case of adding fuel to fire, embattled senate president, Bukola Saraki faces losing his apex position in the legislature as rumours of his impeachment are being mooted in the corridors of power to compound his woes.

The former governor of Kwara state was on Tuesday, September 20, 2015 docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal after he failed to appear both on Friday (September 18) and Monday (September 21) over a 13-count charge bordering on corruption and alleged false declaration of assets brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Asked for his plea as the trial opened, he pleaded not guilty, saying “I believe that I am here as the Senate president to indicate my respect for the tribunal. I am puzzled why I am being compelled”…

Reprieve came when he was granted bail on self recognition.

Fighting back, Saraki through his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he was singled out for prosecution because of his position as the Senate President. In his words, “As I stated while taking the plea in the case, I reiterate my belief that the only reason I am going through this trial is because I am Senate President. If I were to be just a Senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over twelve years ago.”

Mr. Saraki had supposedly defied the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which had anointed Ahmed Lawan for the position. He got the support of senators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and won the seat in controversial circumstances.

Since then, many believe, it was only a matter of time before his perceived sin would catch up with him. Now, it seems to have as there are allegedly plots by pro-Lawan senators impeach him.

According to reports, they have succeeded in poaching more than 10 senators from the pro-Saraki group strengthening the move to oust the two-time senator. This move, findings show, became necessary when it was obvious that the pro-Lawan group could not achieve their aim as out of 109 senators, 57 had voted for him.

 

MOHAMMED  FAWEHINMI,  legal practitioner

How do you react to the trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the possible impeachment?

The case resumes on October 21; the impeachment I don’t know anything about that. False declaration of assets amounts to criminal act, and if you are to tackle a criminal act, you might not be able to serve in that capacity. By virtue of the act, you might not even be able to serve in the capacity of a senator, so there might be a by election to elect someone else. But let’s see how it plays out.

What would you say is the legal ground for him to be impeached?

Yes, there is every legal ground, more than enough! False declaration of assets is enough ground for impeachment. If the law were to be followed strictly, he could lose the senatorial seat in which case a by election or fresh election would hold. It depends on the political intrigues that would unfold.

Going by the current trajectory, what do you think could be the outcome?

If the tribunal is to complete the trial, I don’t see a happy ending for him at all, unless there is justifiable explanation of the assets he has acquired. That’s the big question now! It all traces back to Section 15 (5) which talks.

All the monies he declared at the Code of Conduct Bureau can be traced back to his time as governor, but we don’t know the sort of job or business he must have done to amass such wealth. We know he has been governor for eight years and a second time senator.

Do you feel he is being victimised for allegedly going against the will of the party?

I am not a member of the party so I do not know what transpired behind closed doors. Every party has its people, like a collection of strange bed fellows, so there’s bound to be disagreement. What I hear or know about the party is what I read in the newspapers, and I don’t know who did or said what, or what happened. But I am believing what Buhari said that even if corruption is part of his own party, he’s ready to clean it up. I am looking at it from a strictly legal point of view. Our own grouse is that since he was summoned by the Code of Conduct Tribunal he should have appeared. Even a member of his party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was also a governor for eight years was summoned and he appeared, he argued at the tribunal and he won.

 

FRED  AGBAJE,  legal practitioner,  Rights activist

How do you react to the trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the possible impeachment?

Whatever happens to Saraki in the floor of the Senate is purely an internal matter in the hallowed chamber called the Senate. If the hallowed chamber called the Senate considers the matter grievous enough to impeach him I have no problem with that. But if on the other hand, it is not considered grievous and still goes ahead to impeach him as senate president, then that hallowed chamber is no longer hallowed. It then means that the hallowed chamber is contaminated, and if that is the case, under what moral authority would they screen the incoming ministers? That’s one of my worries in the fight against corruption in this country. Will the present crop of senators and governors dance to the beat of president Buhari? Will the fight against corruption not meet its Waterloo under the Senate leadership of the likes of Saraki?

Going by the current trajectory, what do you think could be the outcome?

Anything can happen. The whole world might be condemning Saraki, but supposing the security agencies do not have sufficient facts and evidence to prosecute the case, will the man not be discharged and acquitted? When it comes to establishing hardcore evidence against corrupt officials, I don’t trust the anti-corruption agents. Going by what has happened with the likes of Fani Kayode, you don’t expect me to trust such anti-corrupt agents. I won’t be surprised if at the end of the day, Saraki is discharged for lack of substantial evidence and facts.

HIS CONTENTIOUS ASSETS

BUKOLA SARAKI’S ASSETS

  • Plot 212 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, N700 million.
  • Others are a plot of land on Lekki Phase (block 72), N7 million;
  • Ibafo near Ajah, N5 million;
  • Buildings on number 42 Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, N750 million
  • 19 Roxton Road, Ikoyi, N500 million
  • 62 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, N100 million
  • 15A & B MacDonald, Ikoyi, N160 million
  • 6 Vulga Street, Maitama, Abuja, N60 million

HIS MOVABLE PROPERTIES

 Mercedes S320, N16 million

 Mercedes S500, N20 million

 Mercedes G500, N18 million

 Mercedes V220, N6 million

 Mercedes 300E, N2 million

 Mercedes ML 240, N8.5 million;

 Mercedes CLK 320, N9 million

 Mercedes E320, N11 million

 Mercedes G500 bullet-proof, N45 million

 Mercedes S500 bullet-proof, N30 million

 Ferrari 456 GT N25 million

 Navigator, N15 million

 Peugeot 406, N2 million

 Lexus Jeep bullet-proof, N30 million

 Lincoln Navigator bullet-proof, N25 million

 

HIS LANDED PROPERTIES

 123A, Ashley Gardens, Thirleby Road, London, valued at $750,000. (N120 million)

 56 Cheyne Court, SW 3, London, $900,000; (N144 Million Naira)

 54 Ashley Gardens, Ambrasden Avenue, London, $2.5 million; (N400 million)

 141 Ashley Gardens, Thirleby Road, London, $600,000; (N96 million)

 Nell Gwynn House, Sleave Avenue, London, $400,000; (N64 million)

 Ormond House, Ormond Street, S/London, $400,000; (N64 million)

 53 Ashley Gardens, Ambrasden Avenue, London, $2.5 million, (N400 million)

 70 Bourne Street, S/W London, valued at $4.8 million. (N768 million)

 

HIS CASH DEPOSITS IN DIFFERENT BANK ACCOUNTS

NIGERIA

 Societe Generale; N11 million

 Ecobank, Broad Street, Lagos, N350, 000;

 Citizens Bank, Broad Street, Lagos, N390, 000;

 Citizens Bank, Broad Street, Lagos, N600,000;

 Ecobank Nigeria plc, Broad Street, N10.3 million,

 Guaranty Trust Bank, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Lagos, N2.9 million.

 Societe Generale Bank, Oke Arin Street, Lagos, N23 million

 Guaranty Trust Bank, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Lagos.

 

FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS

 Coutts & C, 440 Strand, London, £905,000; (N235.3 million)

 Northern Trust International Banking Corporation, Merrillynch Piece Fender, $400,000 (N64 million)

 Fortis Bank, Camoile Street, London, £2 million. (N520 million)

 

HIS FOUR CHILDREN

His four children Tosin, Seni, Teniola and Teniayo, are worth N741.89 million in cash,

 

HIS WIFE

Toyin Saraki, had a net asset of N1.49 billion as at 29 May 2003.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Avatar

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Legal luminary, Prince Bola Ajibola to be honoured at COSON lecture

Tuesday,October 6,2015, Major Headlines