Nigerian Senate Leader Cleared of Corruption Charges

Nigeria’s senate leader, Bukola Saraki, has been cleared of corruption charges in President Buhari’s anti-graft campaign.

Saraki had been accused of collecting ‘double salaries’ during his time as governor of Kwara State in the western part of Nigeria, and has been accused of making false declarations of his income and assets during and after his time as governor.

Saraki was the governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.

His defense team, which consisted of a whopping 66 lawyers in total, argued that prosecutors failed to make a proper case against Saraki. They also questioned the competency of the tribunal that was appointed to try him.

Saraki’s case was heard at the Nigerian Code of Conduct Tribunal, which is specifically designed to seek justice in matters of alleged abuse in public office.

Judge Danladi Umar said in his finding that the case of the prosecution had become unreliable.

“All the responses of the prosecution witnesses and evidence in this trial have been discredited as a result of cross-examination and have become unreliable…In the light of the foregoing, the tribunal has nothing to do other than to discharge and acquit the defendant,” he said.

Saraki was first charged in February of last year. He has previously also been acquitted in a separate case of forgery and conspiracy.

He is considered to be Nigeria’s third most powerful politician, behind Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Buhari.

Image:  Bukola Saraki [online image] (2017) sourced on 15 June 2017 at https://www.36ng.ng/2015/09/18/all-the-7-corruption-cases-against-bukola-saraki-since-becoming-senate-president/