The Federal Government has amended the charges of false asset declaration preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
With the amendment, Saraki will be facing two fresh charges in addition to the 13 counts originally preferred against him, which comprised false asset declaration and maintaining of offshore account while serving as Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.
The additional charges, include allegation that Saraki continued to receive salary and emoluments as Governor of Kwara State after the expiration of his tenure and at the same time, from the Federal Government as a senator between June 2011 and October 2013.
The offence is said to be contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
The other additional charge is that Saraki failed to declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2003, his leasehold interest leasehold in the property at 42, Remi Fani Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
He was said to have acquired the property in December 12, 1996 through his company, Skyview Properties Limited from First Finance trust Limited.
The offence is said to be contrary to section 15(1)(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
However, a fortnight ago, the Kwara State Government denied paying former governor of the State, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki salary after he left office in May 2011.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold in a reaction to claims that the former governor was drawing salary from the State after he left office, explained that Dr Saraki’s last salary was N291,474.00 for the month of May 2011.
According to the SSG, “from June 2011, former Governor Saraki started receiving his pension which was N578,188.00 as other past governors in the country”.
The statement added that after the review of pensions of former political office holders by the State Pension Board, the former governor’s pension increased to N1,239,493.94 monthly from October 2014 to date.
Kwara State Government, therefore, dismissed as false and misleading the allegation that former Governor Saraki was receiving salaries after the expiration of his two-term tenure as governor of the state.
In that statement, Alhaji Gold advised interested stakeholders to seek clarification from appropriate authority to avoid misleading the public. – Additional report from Punch.
No pension for former governors should kick in if the former governors are holding gainful employment. If they are senators or Ministers, they must not collect pensions for having been governors. Is Nigeria a stupid country to not know something this simple? Tufiakwa!