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The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki over the 13-count corruption charge slammed on him by the Code of Conduct Bureau starts on Friday in Abuja, it has been learnt.
Saraki is said to have made false declaration of his assets.
The Deputy Director in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, M.S.Hassan, filed the charges against Saraki on September 11.
The charges against Saraki include false declaration of assets, alleged acquisition of assets beyond his legitimate earnings and keeping foreign accounts while holding public office first as Kwara State governor in 2003 and later as a senator.
“That you, Dr. Bukola Saraki, whilst being the governor of Kwara State on or about 16th September, 2003 within the jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal did make a false declaration in the asset declaration form for public officers on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State by an anticipatory asset declaration,” the charge sheet read in part.
Reacting to the charges in Abuja, on Wednesday, Saraki described them as frivolous.
He said the allegations were a reflection of the saying that “each time you fight corruption, the system will fight you.” Saraki spoke during a brief encounter with correspondents covering the Senate in Abuja.
He said, “Most of them (charges) are frivolous and not true. This sounds like issues of affairs. If you say a statement over 13 years, it has been there since 2003 and you wake up 13 years after and you wonder. I have always done my declaration. We will continue to do our job.
“There is no doubt that it is mischievous. It is not current. The issues are not true. As far as we are concerned, we are not shaken. We will focus on what we have come to do as elected by my colleagues to do in the interest of the country.”