₦airaland Forum

The Face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The Face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The Face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The Face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

“Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong”- Daniel O'Connell.
BY REMI OYEYEMI SEP 26, 2015

The Senate is the highest law making body for this country. It is supposed to be hallowed chambers for men of integrity. It is supposed to be a reflective body consisting dignified men of accomplishment. It is supposed to be the moral barometer for the country and every public servant who seek to serve. It is a place where you are supposed to find statesmen, who seek the best for the country and would even welcome self denials as part of the price to move the country forward. The Senate is supposed to be a sanctified and sacrosanct chamber.

But the Nigerian Senate is everything that is not supposed to be. Without doubt, there are few men of honour in the morally castrated body. But unfortunately, few men of honour would not do. The evidence of this is the macabre dance that has been eviscerating the Chamber since the beginning of this administration. The coronation of a born-again swindler as the Senate president is another attestation to this. It was an act that has made the country a laughing stock internationally and inflicted unqualified opprobrium on the Nigerian psyche.

For this reason, the time has come for Nigerian to begin to ask questions: What kinds of people are gallivanting around the hallowed Chambers of the Nigerian Senate? Are they the kinds of people who should be there? Do they have the moral qualifications to be members of that body? Do they have the integrity and dignity that such a body requires? Are these reputable leaders or notorious leeches? What threats do they constitute to this country? Or at least, what threats do they constitute to the present efforts to clean up this country of undesirable elements in our public space?

It is time for Nigerians to begin to ask questions about what kind of “Senators” are offering support to this kind of man identified as and called “Senator” Bukola Saraki? What are their trajectories? What are their backgrounds? Are these Senators moral reprobates? Have they at any point in time defrauded this country? Is their solidarity with “Senator” Saraki “a solidarity of thieves?” Why are they so emboldened to foist a notorious swindler as the President of our Senate? Did they do this to cover their own tracks hoping to use the system to protect their fraudulent past?

What kind of shameless “Senators” would follow Bukola Saraki to justify corruption and kleptomania? What kind of Senators would solidarise with Mrs. Toyin Saraki for being questioned on issues of fraud and corruption? What sort of integrity do they claim? What moral authority do they project as members of the highest law making body of the land? Could they not even wait until the dust of these corrupt trials settle? Why are they in a hurry to throw their support behind Saraki? Did they even get to ask themselves whether Saraki deserves their support or not? Or is this just a blind support no matter what? Do these “Senators” have any dignity at all?

Or is this still all politics? Is the politics of these Senators, that which has no conscience? Is it the type that has no feelings? Is it the type that props injustice? Is their own politics the type that flaunts corruption and care less about the people? Is their politics so insensitive that it cares not about the cries and tears of the people? Is their politics aimed at further destructions of the society? Are they playing politics of “you all be damned”? What breed of politicians would be so brazen, blatant and brassy about immorality in the public space? Is the emergence of this genre of politicians a sign of the death of conscience and dearth of shame in our society?

Yes, politics is conventionally described as dirty. But Awoism contends that politics really is not dirty but only its players are dirty, and politics could be clean, honourable and dignifying to the extent to which its players want it to be. It is the task of the people of any polity to sanitise their politics and make it what they want. This is of great pertinence because it is impossible for any society to subsist when it has no moral cilia. No society would be fit to live without at least, an attenuated integrity. No society would be worth the effort if dignity is not part of its ethos.

It is now time for the institutions of the state to begin the task of ridding our public space of undesirable elements. It is time for the EFCC and the ICPC, The Nigerian Police and the Judiciary to begin cleansing the society of undesirable men who seek to govern us. It is time for searchlight on the Senators who are blatant in their support for corruption and decadence. It is time for some of these senators to come out and declare publicly their worth to the Nigerian people. Nigerians want to know how they came up with their stupendous wealth and riches.

There is need for a corrupticide to cleanse our public space of corrupt elements. Anyone who has given public support to corruption should be quizzed. Even those who have offered covert support for corruption should not be let off the hook. Such a person or group of persons would definitely know one thing or two about the whereabouts of some of our commonwealth. There is need to cleanse the Senate of corrupt members.

Reprobates like Saraki and his backer in the former Vice President Abubakar Atiku should not be gallivanting across the land unfettered. They need to give account of their stewardship to the people. What is the source of their wealth? How did they come about their richness? What is their source of fortunes? Nigerians would like to know. Simply because a swindler is described as “generous” does not absolve him from explaining the source(s) of his wealth and riches. You cannot steal us blind and then wear the toga of “generosity.” Being “generous” with our stolen commonwealth is not acceptable.

Swindlers like Bukola Saraki and Abubakar Atiku could not be kingmakers in our society. They could not be dictating the directions of our society. They could not be calling the shots with their reeking hands. They could not continue to inflict our society with their questionable morality. They could not and should not be allowed to keep planting swindling sentries in all the crannies and corners of our Federal and State governments to continue the looting and stealing. Internationally acclaimed crooks could not be determining our destiny in this country. It is time for them to be checkmated.

President Mohammadu Buhari should give us an Attorney General (AG) as quickly as possible. We need an AG that would institute investigations of all those who seek to serve and are serving this country. We are tired of people of questionable wealth ruling over us. These moral reprobates have become so confident that they even threaten those who refuse to be part of them. There are allegations of some of them having hired assassins at their beck and call to take out those they consider threats to their ways of looting and swindling. They are bandits; ruthless, merciless and dangerous.

Right now, nemesis is about to catch up with the famously fraudulent “Senate President” Bukola Saraki, an alleged certified bank robber and reportedly, a criminal of repute and highly respected crook. “Senator” Saraki, from all indications, is a previously baptized scoundrel who is now a born-again swindler. A scion of a family of purloiners and plunderers that has held an entire people of a state in economic bondage and political subjugation through the manipulation of the system, “Senator” Saraki is laboriously trying to hibernate from the pursuit of justice. It remained to be seen whether “Senator” Saraki would succeed in this.

[b]The sweat of those customers of The Societe General Bank has refused to be dried. Their tears are still streaming in search of succour. Their blood is boiling for justice. Their souls are sorrowing for consolation. The ghosts of those of them who died of frustration as a result of the heist of Saraki family are still haunting. Their spirits are snivelling for vengeance. The curses of the investors or shareholders who put in their money for a legitimate return but were deprived by Bukola Saraki and his family, are catching up.

The victims of Trade Bank, robbed of their deposits, swindled of the fruits of their sweat and told to go to hell by Bukola Saraki, might still have justice. The pains of ordinary men and women who through hard work, made a little extra and saved them up for their time of infirmities, and probably for their own children are still pealing for attention and redress. The original owners of Intercontinental Bank, their customers and investors whose dreams were derailed by Senator Saraki through blatant fraud might still have the last laugh. We are all anxiously waiting to see how it all pans out.[/b]

The battle to cleanse Nigeria of corruption is just beginning. The failure or success of it would determine the survival of Nigeria or its demise. It is why President Buhari has to be courageous, fearless but fair, balanced and equitable in prosecuting this war on corruption. Its prosecution is going to be a tough one. Without doubt, it is a very herculean one. It is titanic in nature. It is a monumental and vast task. But regardless, if the survival of Nigeria, about which I still have a serious doubt, must become a reality, this certainly is the task that must be accomplished.

In the course of this, lies would be glamourised and spread around. Falsehood would be fine tuned and peddled. Ridiculous justifications would be put forth. Preposterous excuses would be propped up. Rationalisations would be vociferous. Obnoxious explanations would be rendered. Grotesque counter claims would be made to shift the focus. Parlous counter accusations would be thrown around to create diversions. But all of them should not deter those who seek some sanity for the polity.

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.”
- John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961

Please, follow me on twitter @OyeyemiRemi

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/26/time-focus-rogue-senators-remi-oyeyemi

The Face of Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform, Chief Ayo Opadokun, says if Senate President Bukola Saraki had been gentlemanly, he would have resigned as the President of the Senate when his election to the office was widely condemned by the generality of Nigerians.

Saraki had on June 9, 2015, defied the directive of the All Progressives Congress on the leadership of the Senate by emerging the President of the Senate under controversial circumstances.

The circumstances also saw Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party emerging as Deputy Senate President.

The former Secretary-General of the Afenifere and ex-General Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition, further said Saraki had been “an unpleasant occupier of an otherwise very strategic constitutional office.”

Opadokun added, “Saraki should go.”

He said, “It was a total misjudgment on Saraki’s part to conspire with the opposition to sell out his party in order for him to become the Senate President. If he was to be a gentleman, he could have resigned from that office long ago.”

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had dragged Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, where he is facing a 13-count charge for alleged false declaration of assets.

Opadokun said, “He should have resigned from his position to save Nigeria’s nascent democracy. He should appreciate that he has laid his hands on the plough; there is no going back, he has to leave.

“Let Saraki’s legal consultants and advisers tell the world how they can save him by presenting that the forgery of the Senate Rule that was used to make him the Senate President is a matter limited to the National Assembly. Forgery is a criminal offence.”

He stated that it was wrong for Saraki’s loyalists to claim that the alleged false assets declaration was purportedly committed 13 years ago.

“If he does not know, our criminal legal system here is anchored on the Latin maxim, which says time does not run against the state in criminal prosecution. Even if you committed the offence 30 years ago and the state is now ready to prosecute you, you have no basis to say it was committed long ago.

http://www.punchng.com/politics/saraki-shouldve-resigned-as-senate-president-opadokun/

Face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 : ENIOLA AKINKUOTU

The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Campbell Umeh-Nzekwe, says since Senate President Bukola Saraki is being tried for alleged corruption at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, it will not be in the interest of justice for him to lead a Senate that will probe others for corruption.

Umeh-Nzekwe, who is also the leader of APGA in Lagos State, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Thursday.

The APGA leader said Saraki should, therefore, step down for the sake of morality.

He said a few weeks ago, the President of Guatemala, Otto Pérez Molina, resigned because he was investigated over allegations of illicit association and receiving bribe.

The APGA chieftain said although the Guatemalan President denied the allegations, he immediately resigned because he wanted to preserve the sanctity of the presidency while facing trial.

He, therefore, wondered why Saraki, whose trial had already begun, would allow the office of the Senate President to be tainted.

He said, “The Senate will be involved in probing ministries and public officials. What would be the moral right of the Senate President to lead a probe when he himself is facing a trial for corruption? He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

“Saraki has not been declared guilty by a court but the President of Guatemala recently resigned just to answer allegations of corruption. Why must Nigeria be different?”

When asked if Saraki’s probe was a witch-hunt because he defied the directive of the All Progressives Congress by becoming Senate President, Umeh-Nzekwe said this was not the first time Saraki would be investigated for corruption.

He recalled that in 2012, Saraki was declared wanted by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police for a N9bn fraud. He noted that Saraki also claimed it was a witch-hunt at the time even though he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party at the time.

He added, “In my opinion, Saraki was never fit to lead the Senate from day one. He was aware of this and that was why he went to hide in a car park so that he could sneak into the Senate and betray his party and emerge as Senate President.

“We thank God that there is a new sheriff in town. Saraki should step down and defend himself at the tribunal. He should stop embarrassing the Senate because the whole world is watching.”

http://www.punchng.com/politics/sarakis-senate-cant-probe-corrupt-people-apga-leader/

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

The face of Criminal Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

BY PIUS ADESANMI SEP 23, 2015

In the aftermath of the corruption and emissions cheating scandal that has rocked automobile corporation, Volkswagen, the company’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, has resigned. Says Winterkorn in his resignation statement released on September 23, 2015:

“I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group. As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part. Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation. I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life. The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.”

Mr. Winterkorn’s resignation has been greeted by widespread condemnation among the users of Volkswagen products in Nigeria. Many of the supporters of Volkswagen products in Nigeria allege widespread irregularities and bias in the probe of Volkswagen by the American authorities. The general opinion of the aggrieved Nigerians is that the honest admission of guilt by Mr. Winterkorn notwithstanding, he has been a victim of an unfair witch hunt and lack of due process by the American investigators.

Some of the aggrieved Nigerians wonder why the emission probe has to start with Volkswagen cars when it is common knowledge that the Bedford logging trucks (agbegilodo) used by loggers all over Nigeria in the 1960s and 1970s never passed emission tests yet Bedford was never investigated by the Western governments of the era. Many aggrieved Nigerians also recall that in the heyday of Peugeot 504 GL and Peugeot 504 SR in the 1970s and 1980s, the French company was never able to manufacture safe and secure doors. The door was always the weakest part of that brand. Yet Peugeot was never investigated by the powers that be.

Other Nigerians are mad over the timing of the Volkswagen probe. They allege that the witch hunt against Volkswagen is buttressed further by the fact that a comprehensive, unbiased, and fair probe of the auto industry ought to have started with the first car built by Henry Ford in 1896. It is generally known that Mr. Ford’s car was deficient and caused a lot of environmental issues in 1896 and 1897. The Nigerians insist that no probe of the auto industry would be acceptable that does not begin with Mr. Ford’s 1896 car.

The aggrieved Nigerians are planning massive protests in support of Mr. Winterkorn and Volkswagen. Arrangements have been made to sponsor paid advertorials in newspapers in support of Volkswagen. When reminded that the corruption and irregularities at Volkswagen which led the said auto maker to rig emission tests in the US may have caused damage to the environment and even led to some deaths, one of the Nigerian supporters of Volkswagen responded:

“Ehen, before nko? And so? Is it only Volkswagen emission that has been killing people? What about emission by other cars? What is bad is bad. This is a clear case of witch hunt against Volkswagen. We will not take it!”

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/23/nigerians-decry-witch-hunt-volkswagen-ceo-martin-winterkorn-pius-adesanmi

NOTE FYI - the above is a satirical piece

Bukola Saraki Embarrassed By Media Coverage, His Aides Block Reporters From Filming Him In Court
BY SAHARA REPORTERS, NEW YORK SEP 23, 2015

Nigerian Senator Bukola Saraki’s media aides attempted to obstruct reporters from filming and photographing the embattled Senator during his Code of Conduct Tribunal today. According to news correspondents present in the courtroom, Senator Saraki’s media aides blocked and shielded him from photo and video equipment. Bukola Saraki was arraigned by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for false declaration of his assets.

SaharaReporters has exposed Senator Saraki, and his family, for questionable financial transactions as well as unexplained properties and income from his time as a Director at Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria and Governor of Kwara State.

The drama started when the Special Adviser on Media Chuks Okocha, and Chief Press Secretary Sunny Onogu, informed a court official that the their boss was not happy with the live TV coverage of the court proceedings. Senator Saraki felt that the court should save him from embarrassment by the media.

The court official ordered that the journalists should stop the live coverage forthwith. The court official then called upon the Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Wilson Inalegu, to arrest cameramen of TVC and Channels for ignoring his order.

According to a SaharaReporters correspondent at Saraki’s Tribunal, the court and police threatened to cut the transmission from the TV broadcasting vans outside the courthouse.

Photojournalists who had been camping outside the court were banned from taking Saraki's picture, with threats to seize their cameras.

It would be recalled that his lawyer, Joseph Dawodu raised a frivolous application questioning the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, which is not a court with criminal jurisdiction, to try a criminal case. He argued that the Criminal Justice Code and Act does not apply to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, but only in the Federal High Courts and Magistrate Courts.

He pointed out that they have met the order of the court to produce the accused, Senator Bukola Saraki, but dismissed the argument by the prosecution counsel, Jacob Rotimi, that Senator Saraki should enter the dock and take his plea before any jurisdictional claims can be proven.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar, ordered Saraki to enter the dock and take his plea.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/23/bukola-saraki-embarrassed-media-coverage-his-aides-block-reporters-filming-him-court

Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki

EFCC Seeks Disqualification Of Judge That Granted Stella Oduah Injunction From Handling Its Cases
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK SEP 23, 2015

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has approached the Federal High Court, Lagos for an order disqualifying Justice M. N. Yunusa of same court, from further handling of the commission’s cases pending before his court.

In an "Affidavit of Urgency" filed by the Commission on Tuesday before the court by one of its counsels, the EFCC is praying for an order disqualifying Justice Yunusa from further hearing of the cases as well as the return of the case files to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

The cases include: Mr Jyde Adelakun and Touch of Flame Energy Company Limited vs. Chairman, EFCC and Ibelema Bristol in Suit Number: FHC/ L/ CS/ 1285/2015; Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Michael Adenuga in Suit Number: FHC/L/CS/ 487/ 2014 ; Honourable Shamsudeen Abogu vs. EFCC and Others in Suit Number: FHC/L/ CS/ 1269/2015; Dele Martins vs. EFCC and Others in Suit Number: FHC//L/CS/1623/2015 and Chike Obiakor vs. EFCC and Others in Suit Number: FHC/ L/ CS/2011/2014.

The Commission hinged its request on the grounds of "bias and denial of fair hearing" by Justice Yunusa.

In one of the cases, particularly the matter between Jyde Adelakun and Touch of Flame Energy Company Limited vs. Chairman, EFCC and Ibelema Bristol, the EFCC sought a consolidation of the Suit Number FHC/L/CS/1285/2015 and Suit Number FHC/L/CS/1165/2015 but the application was ignored. Besides, a pending Court Order freezing the bank accounts of Adelakun and Touch of Flame Energy Company Limited (who are being investigated in a case of money laundering involving over $2,000,000.00 was communicated to Justice Yunusa, with an application for a short adjournment to enable the EFCC file an affidavit to exhibit the Order. Justice Yunusa reportedly turned down the application and even refused an oral application to this effect, but went ahead to fix September 23rd, 2015 for judgment.

The EFCC believes that "having regard to the events that took place before the court during the proceedings on 21st September, it will not get justice except the case is re-assigned to another judge".

Also, the EFCC is outraged by a fresh order of Interim Injunction granted by Justice Yunusa, restraining it from "arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, preventing, refusing, interfering with and /or denying" one of its suspects being investigated, his right to personal liberty and freedom of movement into, within and outside Nigeria. The suspect, Dr. Martins Oluwafemi Thomas is being investigated by the EFCC for ownership and movement of the sum of $2,200,000.00( Two Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
This ex parte order is coming on the heels of similar order by the same judge, barring the EFCC from investigating or arresting a former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah.

Justifying its grounds for seeking the disqualification of Justice Yunusa, the EFCC says that "if this application is not granted and the trial judge fails to disqualify himself, the fundamental rights of the Commission to fair hearing will be infringed. It is further submitted that it is the law that any proceedings conducted in breach of the fundamental right to fair hearing is a nullity no matter how well conducted".

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/23/efcc-seeks-disqualification-judge-granted-stella-oduah-injunction-handling-its-cases

BY ABIODUN LADEPO SEP 22, 2015

Boy! Was it great seeing Bukola Saraki docked finally! It took the resilience of a brave, no-nonsense Judge Danladi Umar to demystify and bring down to mother earth the arrogant Saraki. From now on, no Nigerian, no matter how highly placed, would consider himself above the law. Henceforth, the Super Ministers of yesteryears; the Mercurial Governors of the past, who thought they had escaped with their loot, will no longer know peace. Twelve years...12 long years since Saraki filed a phony asset declaration form and he is being called to account for it. In Nigeria…in this same Nigeria where just a few months ago, corruption was not considered stealing according to its President? Thank God almighty that we are witnesses to this revolution.

Apparently, Saraki didn’t get the circular that the era of impunity; the era of “nobody can touch me”; the era of “pull my lips so I can spit” are all gone. He still thinks we are in the Jonathan era when the President could just call over to the IGP or EFCC Chairman’s office and tell them who to NOT prosecute. He thinks we are in the era when the President’s body language and total demeanor discouraged judges and law enforcement agencies from prosecuting corrupt officials. Somebody needed to pass the memorandum over to the Senate President’s office, wake him up from his dream and let him smell the coffee. Judge Umar did that for us. These are different times, my friends.

The rant from Saraki acolytes is that he is being victimized because he is the Senate President. Please come off that nonsense. Sell that balderdash to those hangers-on who feed off the crumbs from your table. You are a victim of greed, kleptomania and arrogance tripod. The arrogance…is it not the same arrogance that made you to describe your Vice President as an “ordinary commissioner” when he tried to mediate the NASS crisis you started simply because VP Yemi Osinbajo was a commissioner in Lagos when you were governor?

Obviously, Saraki believed that nobody who held a position considered lower than his would ever rise to a position higher than his in the future. So, nobody from Kwara, or from any other part of Nigeria, who held a position beneath that of governor could ever hold a position higher than whatever Saraki holds at any point in time. Such childishness! Is it not the same arrogance that got him to thumb his nose at the APC leadership when he was asked to help the party save face by allowing their preferred candidates to occupy other Senate leadership positions; this after he had colluded with his PDP friends to disobey and embarrass the party in his inordinate quest to become Number Three citizen? Is it not the same arrogance that got him to remark: “the President can go to hell. I don’t need him. He needs me to succeed” when he was asked to go and mend fences with Buhari over the crisis that followed his ascension to the Senate presidency?

They begged him…oh; did every reasonable party official not beg him? But he did not budge. They also warned him. When a man continues to climb the tree past the branches and past the leaves, he is about to fall to the ground. Saraki’s dog failed to heed the hunter’s whistle. Instead, he lined up Atiku Abubakar behind himself. In tow too was the Emir of Ilorin who could hardly breathe without Saraki’s handout. They both told him to keep doing his macabre dance; that they had his back. And he kept dancing. He failed to note that the time when Atiku influenced anything was long gone. And that only in parts of Ilorin could the current emir call the shots. Saraki lined up those whom the Buhari anti-corruption crusade has reduced to inconsequential, political paperweights and paper tigers. He was heading straight for perdition but did not know it. For someone with so much baggage, it has to be the height of tomfoolery or sheer obscene arrogance for him to remain in no-speaking terms with both the President and the Vice President and expect everything to be honky-dory.

Even if President Muhammadu Buhari was inclined to helping the Senator out of his self-inflicted wound, how could he have gone about it? Call Judge Umar and tell him what? “Stop prosecuting my good, incorruptible friend, lover of the people of Kwara and doyen of my party’s leadership”? No. It is not in Buhari’s DNA to intercede on behalf of characters like Saraki who were born with the silver spoon in their mouth, placed in positions of trust and privilege, but who plundered their nation’s wealth and then continue to wear the toga of arrogance and petulance that know no bounds

The obscene nature of his arrogance is reflected in the way he was brought up and the way he lived his life till date. From the day he came into limelight as senior officer at the now-defunct Societe Generale bank, through his entire time as governor and his election as Senator, graft, greed and power-drunkenness had been his middle names. Hundreds of people, including a close relative of mine, lost their entire life-savings at Societe while Saraki was in charge there recklessly issuing all sorts of huge loans without collaterals. Word on the street was that the loans were made to people and entities fronting for Saraki or his father. What was also clear was that while all investors in Societe lost money, Saraki and his father made money in leaps and bounds.

By his own admission, Saraki, in 2003 had N51.5 million in Nigeria, 2.9 million pounds sterling and $400,000 dollars in his domiciliary accounts. He owned at least eight properties in Nigeria worth more than N2.2 trillion. He also owned eight properties in London – all purchased about the same time in 2003 and worth more than $12.6 million. These did not include 15 automobiles (bought between 1997 and 2002) ranging from a Ferrari to 10 Mercedes Benzes, with four of his vehicles being bullet-proof – all valued at more than N263 million. In short, before (and I mean BEFORE!) he became governor in 2003, Saraki was worth a whopping N10.2 billion! This, for a man who did not own a single factory and was not manufacturing anything! After that, Saraki governed Kwara State for eight years. Your guess is as good as mine as to how much more he made while in charge of Kwara State funds in the middle of the oil boom.

This is the kind of sleaze that the Code of Conduct Bureau was set up to detect and prevent. And some gullible Saraki loyalists are crying “victimization” when they are actually the victims of his kleptomania. Rather than trooping from Ilorin to Abuja to provide useless “moral support” for someone who has stolen their children’s future as they did when he was arraigned, these hungry and rented supporters ought to be calling for Saraki to resign his Senate seat so they could send someone else whose probity they can vouch for to represent them. It is confounding seeing these hapless people empathizing with someone who has been indicted by the police for forging documents with which he got elected as Number One lawmaker in our country; whose wife is yet to clear her name in the corruption charges she is facing with the EFCC and who has stupendous wealth far beyond his legitimate earnings.

But if the hungry and hapless ordinary people did not know better, what about the 50-plus Senators who were so vicariously traumatized by what is happening to Saraki that they trooped to the Tribunal to provide support for this embodiment of all the vices we pray that our children eschew? How could any reasonable and responsible person be proud to be led by an entity like Saraki who lacks sound moral upbringing and who is driven by extreme kleptomaniac ideation for the purpose only of satisfying his unbridled, vaulting ambition? Curiously, I have not heard a single governor make a statement condemning any of Saraki’s alleged crimes or his attempted flight from justice. In other climes, party leaders and all sorts of national leaders will lead the chorus of those asking Saraki to resign and stop bringing the hallowed chambers of the Senate into disrepute.

How shameful did it look, watching on television that Saraki lawyer…the obscenely fat, apparently equally undisciplined Joseph Daudu, clutching at straws like a drowning man trying to eke out a safe landing for Saraki? It was indeed a fall from grace to grass for both attorney and client. If a secondary school class monitor got ridiculed like that, he would resign his position. But knowing Nigeria and Nigerians, Saraki will sit tight shamelessly. At the very next sitting of the Senate, one Senator should rescue the legislative institution by moving the motion to strip Saraki of his seat as Senate President. That is the honorable thing to do if the Senators have any modicum of respect for themselves and for Nigerians.

I refer the reader to a piece I wrote on this website last month - “Buhari Dead Serious about Corruption – Masu Gudu Su Gudu (Run if you Must)” in which I opined that this President’s anti-corruption freight train will run over anybody in its way. Big-time politicians like Saraki need to listen to little people like me who give them free counsel and fair warning. Interesting days lie ahead for Saraki and his ilk that have milked Nigeria dry.

By Abiodun ladepo

Ibadan, Nigeria

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/22/kirikiri-future-saraki-abiodun-ladepo

Fraudster and Bank Robber Saraki docked

BY PUNCH/NAN SEP 22, 2015

As Senate President Bukola Saraki went into the Code of Conduct Tribunal dock in Abuja on Tuesday to defend himself against allegations of false declaration of assets, his colleagues at the red chamber stayed away from the Senate.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that activities at the National Assembly complex had been at low ebb since the trial saga commenced.

Workers at the complex declined to speak with NAN correspondents on Saraki’s trial, but some of them were seen discussing the matter in groups.

No senator was seen at the premises while the car park was virtually empty.

Aides of the senators were, however, seen collecting and distributing rams on behalf of the lawmakers for the upcoming sallah celebrations.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/22/saraki-senators-desert-national-assembly-aides-collect-rams

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

BY OLATUNJI DARE SEP 22, 2015

This is the time-tested piece of advice I would have passed on to the beleaguered Senate President Bukola Saraki if he was not too far gone in his self- absorption, his overweening sense of entitlement, his predilection for cutting corners, and his Raskolnikov Complex, the delusion named for the central character in Dostoyevsky great novel, Crime and Punishment, that the rules do not apply to him.

Summoned to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT) in the investigation of some baffling inconsistencies in his declaration of assets, he spurns the order, dismisses the charges as false and frivolous, awards himself an acquittal, and seeks a court to block the Tribunal’s proceedings.

In response to this contumacy, the CCT issued a Bench warrant for his arrest. Saraki petitioned another court in a bid to void the warrant. Based on that petition, he again failed to show up before the CCT.

The CCT, Saraki charged, was being used to fight political opponents “to achieve through the back door what some people cannot get through democratic process.”

It is almost as if it was through the front door, and in a process emblematic of the best democratic practice, that he had emerged Senate president. I use the word “emerged” deliberately. By his own account, he had been in hiding until it was safe to join his fellow plotters on the floor of the National Assembly where he was canonised in a proceeding that seemed like the parliamentary equivalent of a street mugging.

His spokesperson warns that “we should not destroy our political institutions and heat up the polity for selfish reasons” in a desperate bid to settle political scores and nail imaginary enemies, adding gravely: “Let us all learn from history.”

Again, it is almost as if the process through which Saraki became Senate president was the quintessence of altruism and selflessness, and that it had, withal, brought down the nation’s political temperature from dangerously high to super normal.

The Tribunal’s summons, his spokesperson further said, amounted to an abuse of the rule of law which portends danger to the judicial system. Saraki affects the language of democracy but readily employs the tactics of a backroom fixer. He is ever so ready to remind everyone that he ranks third in the nation’s constitutional order. Yet his conduct is sometimes almost indistinguishable from that of a political tout.

Where is the noblesse oblige that should always inform the conduct of the holder of his exalted office?

Within hours of the CCT’s order enjoining Saraki to appear before it, a shadowy organisation calling itself Nigerians of Conscience Against Impunity rushed a full-page advertisement to the major newspapers, demanding that officials of the Code of Conduct Bureau resign immediately and face prosecution for “gross violations” of their office.

It was all so reminiscent of the shabby tactics Saraki’s surrogates in the Senate employed when his wife was invited for questioning by the EFCC in connection with some mysterious lodgments in her banking transactions. In what was clearly an act of petulant vindictiveness, they announced that the National Assembly was set to launch an investigation into reports that EFCC officials had corruptly enriched themselves with funds recovered from fraudsters.

In the wake of all this drama, another –or perhaps the same set — set of Saraki’s surrogates recruited a huge delegation to travel from Ilorin to Abuja for the express purpose of conferring on him a traditional title of dubious worth. The real purpose of the visitation, I suspect, was to create for the embattled Senate president the illusion of mass popularity and acceptability.

One of his proxies even has it that Saraki is being pursued because of his zero tolerance for corruption, in keeping with the notorious fact that if you fight corruption, corruption will fight you back.

No comment.

Thus has Saraki continued to dig and dig with increasing fury since finding himself in a hole last June, in the hope that he can spend or bluff or bully or lawyer his way out of it. He deepened that hole yesterday when he failed to appear before the CCT which had issued a Bench warrant for his arrest.

One of his former comrades in the old PDP and one-time Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, has warned that a situation in which the Senate president keeps making trips to the courts would not only “put Nigeria in bad light” but slow down activities in the National Assembly, which would in turn affect the nation.

Ogunlewe said if Saraki appeared before the Tribunal and was found guilty, Saraki would appeal the verdict to the High Court (sic). If his guilt was affirmed there, Saraki would take his case to the Court of Appeal. And if found guilty there, Saraki would head to the Supreme Court.

Prosecuting Saraki was therefore not a good move, according to Ogunlewe.”Imagine the amount of time that would be wasted and the effect it will have on the legislative work within that period.

If this intervention was designed to help Saraki keep the post of Senate president, it achieved the precise opposite. It makes a powerful case for Saraki’s immediate and unconditional resignation, regardless of his guilt or innocence.

A Senate president traipsing from one court to another would be a pathetic sight indeed, even if it is to answer traffic charges. But we are dealing with investigations into allegations of serious fraud. That the president of the Senate could figure in these allegations, however tangentially, should be cause for his resignation.

Noblesse oblige enjoins such an official to resign at the merest intimation of sleaze, real or merely perceived, in his conduct.

In Saraki’s case, these intimations can no longer be ignored. There is the matter of the forged House Rules with which he procured the post of Senate president. There are the ongoing investigations into his wife’s finances. There is the charge that he made false entries in declaring his assets. And there is festering matter of how hundreds of depositors lost small fortunes in the family-owned bank that he ran aground, with nary a dent on his personal fortune.

Each of these issues should move a public official in a country that sets a high store by probity to step down. Together, they make a compelling case for Saraki’s resignation.

Saraki cannot be the public face of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He does not have the gravitas to steer through the legislature the agenda on which President Muhammadu Buhari ran and won. He lacks the moral standing to preside over the hearings at which Buhari’s nominees for important positions are confirmed or rejected.

Saraki, being Saraki, will most likely hang in there and hang tough.

That might serve him well if he can pull it off. But it cannot serve the larger national interest that he now claims to be espousing. Everyday that Saraki continues to wield the gavel diminishes the office of the Senate president and the stature of the Senate.

If he will not step down voluntarily, the Senate should, even if only from a sound instinct for self –preservation, ask him to go or face impeachment.

This national nightmare cannot continue for much longer.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/22/saraki-time-step-down-olatunji-dare

Posted By: Jide Babalolaon

Attempts to get the reaction of Senator Bukola Saraki’s political ally, Senator Dino Melaye, to the warrant of arrest issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal against the Senate President yesterday met a brick wall.

Melaye, known widely as one of Saraki’s most vocal supporters, declined comment when our correspondent contacted him yesterday, raising suspicion that the proverbial hand of the clock may have turned a full circle at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Melaye, the spokesman of Senator Saraki’s campaign for the Senate President position, had maintained his vocal posture while Saraki defied the All Progressives Congress’ directive on the filling of Senate positions.

He is currently facing his own legal challenges in the Kabba/Lokoja Senatorial constituency where Senator Smart Adeyemi is seeking a reversal of Melaye’s victory in the 2015 senatorial elections.

Melaye, who is currently the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity. declined to send any response to our reporter’s text message demanding his reaction.

Before and after the text message, about 15 calls our correspondent made to his phone went unanswered.

Repeated calls and text messages made to the telephone lines of other senators also went unanswered while two of them sought more time as they cautiously weighed the implications of the development.

The fate of the four committees inaugurated by the Senate on July 29, this year may hang in the balance if the power equation, including the Saraki leadership of the Senate is altered as a result of the unfolding developments.

The four committees are the Selection Committee, the Rules and Business Committee, the Ethics and Privileges Committee and the Ad-hoc Committee on Publicity.

Senate President Bukola Saraki heads the Selection Committee while the Rules and Business Committee is headed by Senator Babajide Omoworare from Osun East Senatorial District and the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee has Senator Samuel Anyanwu from Imo East Senatorial District as its Chairman.

http://thenationonlineng.net/jitters-in-sarakis-camp-as-dino-melaye-other-senators-keep-mum/

BY BAYO OLUWASANMI SEP 20, 2015

The moral pattern of Nigerian politics continues to degenerate with the crop of politicians elected into leadership positions. In the past, our representatives were primarily chosen based on their governance skills, civil commitment, moral principles, and human values.

Broken election promises, ill-advised lawmaking, corruption, and political falsehood that would attract degradation and rejection in a civilized democracy are flagrantly dismissed as “witch-hunting” by people of unexamined, primitive partisanship. Political leaders found guilty of political wrongdoing and leadership incompetence, and lawbreakers that should be impeached and excluded are the lawmakers. Any attempt to make these abhorrent political leaders accountable and be punished for their improprieties is viewed as “malicious,” “politically motivated,” “undue interference,” and “selective.”

It is the norm for our political leaders to trick, manipulate, and marginalize the ethical principles of right and wrong all of which are made to serve their greed, lust for power, and to serve their political party, their regime, or clan.

Our political leaders and their rabid supporters see political morality as a matter of personal opinion rather than ethical problem and human conscience. Realpolitik – politics based on material factors and interest considerations – rather than on ethical objectives and human ideals, is what drives our politics. In today's Nigeria politics of politicking, assassination of political rivals, torture and revenge on innocent citizens, election rigging, political forgery, corruption, embezzlement, and other political aberrations are the order of the day.

Combating poverty, providing healthcare, jobs, quality education, safety and security to the poor are not of importance to the political leaders. Because in realpolitik, the rich and the privileged have their own priorities and different sociopolitical agendas. Of course, given the large empire of corruption that Nigeria has become, it is impossible to name clean-living political leaders. Majority of the members of the National Assembly, state legislators, governors, and local government councilors are either criminals or ex-convicts. They are wicked, insensitive, and insidious to honor human values. They are not morally equipped to take Nigeria to a better place.

Having forged the Senate Standing Rules that got him elected Senate President, Bukola Saraki is fighting with his last breadth for his political life. The latest hit from the Saraki Corruption Dynasty in what's been a slow-motion crash for an unusually irresponsible and damaged Senate President, is the 13-count charge by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) against Saraki for alleged failure to fully declare his assets. The indictment reads in cinematic detail that portrays Saraki as a polished name for political immorality. The CCB 13-count charge include among other crimes, improperly using state funds to purchase private assets during his tenure as the governor of Kwara State while he was senator of the federal republic of Nigeria. He was also accused of declaring as part of his assets a property that had not been sold to him, a practice known as “anticipatory looting” in Nigeria.

Saraki assumed the Senate Presidency a diminished political leader. His bids to reunite with President Buhari and the APC leadership met with stern rebuff, and senate colleagues co-exist with him uneasily. Embarrassments have become routine whenever he's tried to forcibly reinsert himself into the national debate. The ethical and corrupt charges preferred against the Kwara State Senator by the CCB, show how deep Nigeria has declined in political morality. We're all familiar with Saraki's dossier of political sins it need not be rehashed. But the aspect of his transgressions that is fascinating as well as disturbing is the manipulation of right and wrong. Because of our ethnic biases, prejudices, and discrimination, we refuse to differentiate or agree on what is politically wrong or right. Even when we know that something is wrong, we still take the insanity road to argue otherwise.

What is our basis of judging what is right or wrong on the sociopolitical level? How do we as Nigerians assess and by which norms wrongfulness is adjudged? What qualifies for political immorality and violation of political ethical codes? Where do we draw the line between good and evil? Consider the following: Did Saraki forge his way to become Senate President? Was he falsely accused of declaring false assets? Did he trespass against the law that prohibits elected officials from having foreign bank accounts? Did he and his wife Toyin plunder and collapse Societe Generale Bank? Did he misappropriate Kwara State funds during his eight-year tenure as governor? Did he conceal his stolen wealth in his asset declaration forms by passing off some assets to his wife and two children, Semi Saraki and Teniola Saraki?

Did he fail to explain how he got his wealth on the asset declaration forms? Has he any foreign bank accounts under his name or those of his companies with at least 2.9 million pounds sterling and $400,000 in 2003? Did he declare at least eight of his registered properties in Nigeria calculated in 2003 to be worth more than N2.2 trillion? Was Saraki also the registered owner of eight properties in London England worth $12.6 million which he purchased sometimes in 2003? Why is Saraki afraid to defend himself in the court? Shouldn't he have seized the golden opportunity as the chief lawmaker of Nigeria to set example that no one is above the law by appearing in court instead of seeking court order to squash the case? Bring Saraki before the law and let him defend himself. Until these and other criminal and ethical citations are resolved, he's not fit to lead the Senate.

Aristotle once said that the happiest life for a human being is the life of moral virtue. The life of courage, temperance, justice, and the other virtues of character is better for the person living life than a life that lacks those virtues. And Plato's Republic centers on a simple question: is it always better to be just than unjust? A political leader like the Senate President must project proper political morality. Certain personal qualities are essential to political leadership hence the relationship between ethics and politics.

The case of Saraki deals with discipline of political ethics: values and the good, right and wrong, obligations and rights, justice and ideal social and political arrangements. Saraki could be depicted as comic-book villain. Through financial frauds, Saraki throughout his life has enjoyed a gilded life. For long, the beneficiaries of the Saraki Corruption Dynasty lend their voices to the chorus of praise for Saraki. Over the years, Nigerian tabloids have generously devoted news columns exposing the Saraki Corruption Empire. With all his frauds and fleece, Saraki remains untouchable. Now, the chickens have come home to roost. As the Senate President, his honesty, trustworthiness, and favorability continue to erode each day. He's now increasingly underwater and he's sinking by the day under his own weight.

A moral collapse is eating away the foundations of our society like cancer. Nigeria immorality in government is at a peak. Immorality in government lies at the heart of our nation's problems. We see the evidence of moral collapse all around us every day. If it continues unchecked, it will inevitably destroy Nigeria. Unfortunately, fixing moral decay is far more difficult than switching out political parties because it is in the hearts of millions of Nigerians.

So, where is the mourning for the fact that we, as a nation, have come to this: a choice between murderers, a choice between plunderers, a choice between looters, a choice between thieves, a choice between forgers, a choice between lawbreakers, a choice between cowards, a choice between fools, a choice between idiots, and a choice between an embattled, bruised, battered scammer Senate President.

As long as unsound political leaders like Saraki are in charge of our affairs, they will supplant Nigerians' peaceful life, prosperity, civil norms, and ethics.

It's time for Saraki to go!

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/20/bukola-saraki-polished-name-political-immorality-time-saraki-go-bayo-oluwasanmi

“Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong”- Daniel O'Connell.

BY REMI OYEYEMISEP 20, 2015

It is very evident that Nigeria is in dire straits. It is clear enough that Nigeria is in serious trouble. For anyone that still doubts it, we have just been handed the evidence that this country called Nigeria is straddling the line between good and evil. It is about to decide whether to choose the good over evil or vice versa. It is about to determine whether this would be a country where justice and integrity shall be the hallmark of leadership or not. It is about to make a choice whether our public officials would continue to be moral reprobates or virtuous men. The test case is on hand as we speak.

When an alleged Certified Bank Robber in “Senator” Bukola Saraki can sit on the top of the highest law making body of the land with impudence and impertinence, strutting and prancing the corridor of the country’s power halls without let or hindrance, then there is real fire on the mountain. It is a proof that this country would never make it, no matter how much we pretend. It is a proof that this country would never be able to rise to the height of its promise and potentials. It is a sign that the labour of our heroes past has been and would continue to be in vain.

Societies are made up of human beings. As we all know, human beings are never perfect. Even the Christian book called The Bible attests to the fact, “There is no perfect in human nature.” As a result we are not expecting perfection. But what we should not compromise is the attainment of excellence. And if, in the words of the famous American football coach, Vince Lombardi, we relentlessly pursue perfection, we can attain excellence without any iota of doubt.

More so, simply because we recognize that human beings are not perfect is not an excuse to go for the lowest denominators in morality. It is not an excuse to enthrone a bandit and a kleptomaniac in the seat of governance. It is not an excuse to tolerate pernicious arrogance and insidious condescension in the affairs of the country. It is indeed not an excuse to banish integrity and dignity from the task of putting the country aright.

Hence the evident death of conscience amongst a people is always a sign of the beginning of the end for such a society in which they live. When there is a lack of modicum of morality and absence of decency, degeneration sets in and the society continues to fall apart. Nigeria has been falling apart for a long time. This is the only way to explain the defence of the former governors who left records of woes and gnashing of teeth for their peoples via kleptomania in their states by some morally depraved supporters. That Governors like Rotimi Amaechi, Godwin Akpabio, Gbenga Daniel, Rabiu Kwankwanso, Sule Lamido, Kayode Fayemi, Bukola Saraki, Murtala Nyako and a host of others still have defenders underscores the “moral paralysis” that has enveloped our society. They all left records of profligacy and corruption in their states

The reason Nigerians voted for President Mohammadu Buhari was to try and hold Nigeria together by resuscitating its moral fiber and imbue the social milieu with some degree of integrity. All this would not be possible unless “Senator” Bukola Saraki is shoved aside. Not only would there not be any progress for this country, there would not be justice. And where justice is impossible, peace would not be able to find a place. As Oliver Cromwell contended on September 12, 1654 in a speech to the Protectorate Parliament, "Weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven under your shadow, dissettlement and division, discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real dangers to the whole.” This has been the lot of the Nigeria’s Senate since “Senator” Saraki has been in charge. It should not and must not be allowed to continue.

The entire country could not, should not and must not be held to ransom because of the inordinate and morbid ambition of an alleged certified bank robber and thief. “Senator” Saraki is the proof of what Harold Laski called “the moral paralysis” in the society. This has become more pronounced in recent years and that is why degenerates like Bukola Saraki, his godfather, Abubakar Atiku along with their peccant and incorrigibly acquisitive ilk could call themselves power brokers in our society. This moral paralysis is evident in the defence of criminal acts in the name of politics.

The continued occupancy of the office of the Nigerian Senate Presidency by “Senator” Saraki is not, cannot and must not be allowed to subsist. The fact that he is a “Senator” is enough insult to the moral integrity of this country, just like a few of them running around as members of that body. But as posited earlier, we are not looking for perfection, but we should not accept anything that is not good enough. Bukola Saraki is just not good enough, he is bad enough.

Thus for any person or group of persons to come out and defend the evil as represented by Saraki is a sign that there is no shame or conscience in this country any more. Not long ago, Mrs. Toyin Saraki was invited by the EFCC to answer questions on some corruption matters, and to the shame of this country, some of the lawmakers appeared in public with her in solidarity! They ran their mouths pestiferously, as they meander menacingly around the proximity of the anti-corruption body’s offices. In saner climes, all of them would have become immediate political casualties for appropriating opprobrium for their respective constituencies.

For Olisah Mentuh, the spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loquacity is an important requirement for his job. Since he also speaks for a political party, he could be pardoned if he sees politics in many issues that constitute challenges for the country. What evidently is not important requirement for his job is recklessness and shamelessness. One would expect that a spokesperson for a major political party would know where not to cross the line. By coming out to support the evil as represented by “Senator” Saraki is beyond the pale, immoral, conscienceless and audacious. It is lewd, insolent and brazen.

The country is at a crossroad when a major political party, through its spokesman is openly supporting and defending evil as represented by graft, robbery, peculation, skimming, thievery, embezzlement, larceny, pilferage, theft as allegedly personified by “Senator” Saraki. It is an action that is tantamount to treachery against the people. This is because any action that is aimed at destroying the economic well being of the people is traitorous. “Senator” Saraki’s case is not political. Rather it is an existential threat to the socio-economic survival of the people of this country.

One finds it amusing that President Buhari is being accused of being desperate to remove “Senator” Saraki. In one’s book, one has not seen enough desperation to do so on the part of the President. The body language of the President is like he does not even care about the ugliness that “Senator” Saraki represents as the Senate President of the country’s highest law making Chamber. But those who know the President very well contends that the demeanor of the President cocoons a controlled rage at the insolence of some Senate members shrouded in garish shamelessness aimed at defiling the Senate. “Senator” Saraki cannot be the President of the Senate in an administration that is engaged in war against corruption.

Fact of the matter is that the President has to do everything within the confines of the law to have “Senator” Saraki removed from office by encouraging and allowing the institutions to function. Such action would be in the best interest of this country. It would make the international comity of nations take Nigeria seriously. For those Nigerians, who do not travel the world, they could not fathom the insults, slights and disrespect that their fellow Nigerians who do so, suffer from international airports simply because they carry Nigerian passports.

For other loyalists of “Senator” Saraki who hire clerics to engage in prayers, vigil and fasting on his behalf to defend his evil acts, one wishes them good luck. Their act is a shameless show of conscienceless. It is also an unbridled insult to the justiciability of Allah and God. To read in the media that the Chief Imam of Ilorin is also involved in this despicable prayer for an alleged thief and Certified Bank robber speaks volume of who they represent. It shows why more and more people across our country are losing faith in religion and religious leaders who themselves are not better than glorified but cocooned criminals.

It is a sad day when the segment of the society that is supposed to be the moral conscience for all, is exuding iniquity by defending evil. The Chief Imam of Ilorin and his henchmen are advised in the words of Obafemi Awolowo who remonstrated as follows:
“Contemporary political circumstances demand that Religious leaders must recapture and relive the great and noble ideals and the militancy of those inspired and immortal Prophets, Apostles and Evangelists who had the divine courage to proclaim the truth as God gives it to them to know the truth, and to call cant, humbug, political murderers, and brutes and devils in human flesh, by their proper names.”

Rather than pray and keep vigil for a crooked Senator, the Chief Imam of Ilorin and his partners should pray for the victims of “Senator” Saraki’s alleged crimes. The poor customers of Societe Generale Bank and Trade Bank who lost their savings and whose lives are ruined deserve some sympathy. They are the ones that need all the prayers. The shareholders of Intercontinental Bank who were reportedly duped of billions of Naira by Senator Saraki need a lot of prayers too.

Most importantly, the poor people of Kwara, whose destinies have been compromised, whose commonwealth have been commandeered; who have been burdened with poverty and want; whose dignity have been dented; whose self respect have been ruined and whose children’s future have been made futile need a lot of prayers for a turnaround of their fortunes. They need prayers to be freed from the bondage of the Saraki shackles.

It is incontestable that everything that has been alleged against “Senator” Saraki are not just criminal, but they are morally unacceptable. And if they are morally unacceptable, then they could not be politically acceptable. If they are not politically acceptable, then “Senator” Saraki must be removed from office by all legal means necessary, especially if he does not have the littlest integrity to resign or step aside.

“Senator” Saraki could not defraud two banks to extinction and the third to comatose and seat in the Presidency of the highest law making body of this country. This is among other alleged heinous crimes he is yet to answer to. Yes, Nigeria and Nigerians tolerate a lot of things, but this one is not going to stand. Not unless Presdent Buhari wants Nigeria to burst under his watch. Saraki must go to the Courts and answer all the charges against him. If he is vindicated, he would be welcomed back. If not, he would be welcome to the oblivion of History’s dust bin. And to jail!

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.”
- John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/20/“senator”-saraki-and-defence-evil-remi-oyeyemi

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Posted By: Yusuf Allion: September 20, 2015I

• Police await warrant of arrest
• CCT chairman shuts down phones to stave off pressure
• South-East Senator implicated in Saraki’s ex parte application drama

There was anxiety yesterday following the relocation of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, from his personal residence in Maitama District in Abuja.

He was said to have moved to the official Guest House of the Office of the President of the Senate for “security reasons.”

It was learnt that the invasion of the Guest House by the police to arrest Saraki might be considered an assault on the Senate.

But the police were still awaiting the warrant of arrest from the Code of Conduct Tribunal on yesterday.

To stave off pressure, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, has allegedly switched off all his mobile lines.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that Saraki has moved out of his personal residence to an official apartment for “strategic reasons and safety.”

A source said: “The President of the Senate has relocated from his personal house in Abuja. Saraki is now staying in the official Guest House of the President of the Senate which is like a sacred place like the hallowed chamber of the Senate.

“If the police and security agencies invade or storm the place, it will amount to a slap on the upper chamber. This can make the Senate to join issues with the Executive despite the fact that there is no immunity for any National Assembly leaders.

“He has also been consulting with his strategists on how to vacate the Bench warrant against him by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

When contacted, an aide to the Senate President, however, said: “He actually moved to the Guest House since Monday because of the ongoing renovation in his personal residence due to a recent fire incident.”

As at press time, however, the police could not effect the arrest of Saraki because it was still awaiting a copy of the Bench warrant from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

There were indications that the warrant might be sent to the police on Monday.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, said: “We are yet to receive the bench warrant.”

She avoided further comments when pressed to expatiate on the development.

A top source said: “I think the long session of the tribunal on Friday accounted for the delay in making the warrant available to the police.

“And a tribunal will have no justification for issuing warrant of arrest on Saturday when it is not an official period.

“The police have to be careful because any procedural error in the execution of bench warrant could affect the merit or otherwise of the case at hand.

“The police can get the warrant by 8am on Monday and effect the arrest of the President of the Senate immediately.”

All attempts to speak with the Chairman of CCT, Justice Danladi Umar failed as his phones had been switched off.

An official of the tribunal could not immediately ascertain the status of the bench warrant.

The official said: “I cannot give you the status on the bench warrant until Monday. I knew it was being processed after the session on Friday.

“On the CCT chairman, he has to switch off because of pressure from politicians, friends and associates. Some people are just desperate to either speak or meet with him on the matter.

“Also, the case is sensitive and all his lines and other tribunal members will now be subjected to security checks by relevant agencies. Even some supporters of the defendant will be monitoring the call logs of Justice Umar.”

Meanwhile, a Senator from the South-East is being investigated by security agencies for allegedly being the brain behind the ex parte motion filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from arraigning Saraki .

A security source said: “The said Senator is used to procuring ex parte order at will from the Federal High court. We are studying his antecedents, his relationship with some judges.

“The entire process was swift. We want to probe whether or not there was substantial compliance with the relevant rules and the role of the said Senator.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/anxiety-as-saraki-relocates-from-residence/

BY SAHARA REPORTERS, NEW YORK SEP 17, 2015

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has asked the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to defend allegations leveled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Bukola Saraki, Senate President and notorious thief stealing from Kwara State and banks
The group said it was unfortunate that instead of defending himself, the former Governor of Kwara State has resorted to making allegations that he was being hunted.

TMG, in a state of the nation address by its chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi in Abuja on Thursday, expressed support for the on going campaign against corruption by President Muhamadu Buhari, Sikirullahi said, "the case involving Saraki is part of the fight against corrupt practices. We are seeing for the first time that an untouchable is being touched.

"When it happens to a big man, they say it is a witch-hunt. But people forget that if there is no witch there would be no hunter. So they go together.

"It is left to Saraki to prove his innocence in the court. This is also a wake up call to our political office holders that nobody would be spared if he has skeleton in his cupboard.

"We should not frustrate the change we are seeing now. We all saw how our judiciary became a cash and carry judiciary. We all saw how they were dishing out black market judgments in recent time."

He said that that there is a refreshing breath of positive changes in the polity as a result of actions of the President.

Zikirullahi called on the President to remain steadfast in his determination to fight corruption, adding that the anti-graft agencies should take the fight to all those who have "desecrated the public space through criminal conversion of government resources for private gain. "

He said that the introduction of the treasury single account would guarantee transparency in the management of the nation's resources.

According to him, "For once in the checkered history of governance in our country, Nigerians can today go to bed without the fear of waking up to news of scandalous disappearance of substantial chunks of the national treasury as a result of the activities of thieving government officials.

"Critical national institutions that had gone to sleep at the height of indolent governance have suddenly woken up. Slowly and steadily, sanity is being restored, at least at the federal level, to nation that had completely lost its moral compass. The framework for accountability and transparency in governance are being erected."

He said the TMG was in support of the creation of special courts to try those who looted the nation's treasury over the years, saying that regular courts have become cash and carry judicial settings.

He said, "in the last decades, cases of corruption taken before regular Nigerian courts by anti-graft agencies have largely been thrown out on the grounds off frivolous technicalities.

"It was in this country that a court threw over 100 count charge against a certain James Onanafe Ibori, former Governor of Delta states, only for the cause of justice to be served on him by the British judicial system. Today a man exonerated by the Nigerian judicial system is cooling his heels in a UK prison.
"The Ibori story powerfully illustrates why president Buhari needs to work with the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) to set up the special courts and get fearless, courageous and untainted judges to try looters of our Commonwealth."

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/17/defend-allegations-against-you-tmg-tells-saraki

No Greek gift from J.P. Morgan
Posted By: Sam Omatseye on: September 14, 2015

Recently, the international mogul JP Morgan decided to delist Nigeria from its government bonds. The reason is that the new Central Bank regime on foreign exchange transactions does not favour its own light of good capitalism. It has created a set of chain reactions and the stock market has turned a little giddy.

But I am happy the CBN is not yielding to the shark of a bank.

J.P. Morgan and its types come from a culture of due process and transparency. But it is a bank that knows how to trick governments and naïve citizens. Was it not the same bank that was fined close to $20 billion for a series of unethical and unprofessional conduct? It paid a major role in swindling Americans in the mortgage scandal a few years ago, and paid $13 billion in fines. It also paid $1 billion over the “London Whale scandal” and $6 billion over the manipulation of a felon called Bruno Iksil. It paid $2 billion for allowing Berne Madoff swindle innocent American investors. It was in cahoots with companies, such as Goldman Sachs to tease Greece into its crisis by crafting a system to hide its debt while profiting by it. Now, Greece is suffering alone. If JP Morgan cannot live with transparency in Nigeria, we can live without their geeks. We abhor another Greek gift

http://thenationonlineng.net/no-greek-gift-from-j-p-morgan/

The Degoatification Of Nigeria: Matters Miscellaneous By Pius Adesanmi

BY PIUS ADESANMI SEP 13, 2015

The good news is that the degoatification of Nigeria, as slow and imperfect as it is, is on course.

Many a goat has discovered that yam was delicious and easy to swallow because Nigeria had a leader who was always ready to supply the palm oil with which yams are eaten. In the Buhari dispensation, goats are discovering that when a leader withdraws palm oil and cold soothing water, swallowing yams is not an easy proposition for the throat.

It is difficult to monitor all the rot revelations seeping out like purulent puss from every orifice of the Nigerian body politic. Senator David Mark, I hear, has come to the attention of the EFCC on matters miscellaneous over yam accruals.

Whenever Baba Buhari moves us beyond this current phase of anti-corruption warfare by body language and televised gragra invitation of goats by the anti-corruption agencies and we actually begin to arrest and file charges against these people, prosecuting them to the full extent of the law, I will pray and hope that this process leads Senator David Mark to jail in Gashua or Kirikiri.

Senator David Mark is a Catholic faithful like me. We, Nigerian Catholics, shall not disown him. He is our son. We shall give him a Holy Rosary to hang in his prison cell. Anytime I'm in Nigeria, I will visit him in prison and recite the Act of Contrition with him. And I trust Bishop Kukah to visit him from time to time while he does his time.

Again, beyond televised gragra invitation, I eagerly anticipate due process and legal prosecutorial follow-up on Mrs Saraki's case. She has nothing to be afraid of. To my knowledge, Senator Dino Melaye has not announced his resignation from body guard and bouncer duties.

There is Lamido and Sons Goats Inc. We need to know what is happening on that front. When shall we arrive at arrests and prosecution? Femi Otedola's dollars are still symbolically resident inside Honorable Farouk Lawan's cap. Until we find a cell close to Senator David Mark's cell for Farouk Lawan, that particular degoatification process will not be complete. And in this era of change, we must also return to the culpability of the hand that offers a bribe. What happens to Otedola?

I have just cited a few random cases out of hundreds of thousands of cases to remind Baba Buhari that time dey go and "a o r'ojo mu so l'okun" at all.

To be clear: I am impatient and I want more than body language and gragra EFCC invitations. But I am immensely pleased that we have started this war and sent a clear message to goats that there are consequences for yam pilfering.

If you are a Nigerian and you are whining about this anti-corruption war and your criticism is not about pace or methodology but that we started it at all or that the war is roaring towards your own ethnic, religious, or political sacred cow, then go to... I don't even know where to send you. Between "go and die" and "go to hell", Governors Oshiomhole and Al Makura have exhausted the destinations I could send you to!

Ah, yes, go and kpeme! Nobody has said that one yet. If you oppose this anti-corruption war, go and kpeme!

The gradual degoatification of Nigeria is not all about the conquest and pacification of the goats among us. It is not all a story of yams. There is also the gradual beginnings of an ethical and moral degoatification. Governor Al Makura is finding out that being an irresponsible governor in your relationship with the ordinary citizens of this country has a price. We are still an overwhelmingly obsequious people in relation to the irresponsible people we have in power. But, gradually, ethical degoatification is producing a citizen who now understands that an irresponsible governor's convoy has no right to bully him or her off the road. Ethical degoatification is producing a citizen who understands the fact that somebody being a Governor or a Senator or a Minister does not make him or her a super citizen, superior to the rest of us.

You are a Governor? And so freaking what?

Ethical degoatification is why a 65-year-old pensioner and his wife were arrested for writing exams for their children in Benin city. I am afraid you are in no position to read about this story and cast stones. Those parents are us. That is the society we have become. That is the world we have produced. The right of the corrupt politician to destroy Nigeria stops only where the right of the Nigerian people to wreck the country begins.

Don't cast any stones. Those parents are not the exception to the rule. They are the rule. However, that they were arrested and the story got to the level of arraignment in Nigeria is worthy of celebration. Parents whose low moral and ethical stock does not preclude impersonating writing exams for their kids would certainly have attempted to bribe police. Some degree of ethical degoatification must have happened to make the police not bury this case.

Then there is the case of the goat who forgot that we are no longer in the era of goats and yams and traveled to Saudi Arabia on an official passport despite President Buhari's clear instruction to put an end to indiscriminate and illegal use of official passports.

That goat is now in Saudi detention.

As ileya approaches, the family and loved ones of that lawbreaking goat back in Nigeria should have only one prayer:

May the Saudis not suffer scarcity of rams which could lead to the use of goats for the approaching festival.

http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/13/degoatification-nigeria-matters-miscellaneous-pius-adesanmi

Posted By: Steve Osuji

Cash is king, no, cash is god May history be damned! Monetise our legacy! Hand us cash bequeathals! This must be the silent chant of members of our National Assembly (NASS) in the last 16 years. If only they knew any better; if only they realised that the unit of measure of life’s worth lies in legacies and not currencies.

This is why history will have no golden chapter for Senator David Mark who was Senate president and head of NASS for eight years. The refrain of his supporters has been that he was instrumental to stabilising the Fourth Republic and Nigeria’s nascent democracy. But ‘stabilise’ to what end? Didn’t he merely hold down the cow for it to be milked to death?

As this column has always canvassed, the position of the Senate President is only second in importance to that of the President of the federal republic. Therefore, under the control of a noble and enlightened mind, the NASS is a veritable instrument for ringing far-reaching socio-political and constitutional changes. But as we have witnessed, none of the structural dysfunction plaguing the polity was righted; no landmark legislation such that could untangle the system and unleash the potentialities of the state was pushed.

For 16 years, the NASS remained a wayward, licentious lad and in eight years under David Mark’s leadership, it grew into a rapacious money mongering ogre; a loose King Kong trampling the polity and gobbling up our commonwealth. Mark will be remembered for the singular achievement of nurturing a NASS where members earned more than members of the US Congress and the British Parliament put together. We will remember him for bequeathing us with the inimitable legacy of a rogue assembly during his presidency.

We remember Mark today and for always for that outstanding record of creating a NASS that earned the highest wages in the world. We will always remember him for breeding a corps of hard-hearted men and women who are lacking in compunction or empathy for the teeming horde of a poor and deprived populace.

We will remember David Mark and his gang not only for mindlessly immiserising the people but for also over-sighting the historic pillage of the country in the last five years. Never in our history had a parliament entered into such incestuous relationship with the executive branch to rape and ravage the country and her people. Saraki, Chip of the old PDP block While we shall allow history to damn Mark and his baleful lot, we shall have to march on the current Assembly. In just a few days, it has become obvious that Senator Bukola Saraki, the new president of the Senate, is as much a lost soul as Mark. For Saraki, ‘change’ must be a stupid new buzzword Nigerians have just discovered. None of all that ‘change nonsense’ for him; Nigeria’s billions of naira beckons, it seems. His eyes must be firmly glued to a future of imperial positions, and he needs money to purchase it. That is all that matters; again, legacy be damned!

One had thought that Senator Saraki would be influenced by the advantage of better learning and better democratic credentials. We are mistaken it seems. A buccaneer is a pirate and a vampire will always relish blood. Having tasted blood (of the people) in his first term, it is too late to let up now. It does not matter that the economy is flailing, it does not matter that revenues have dried up drastically and it does not matter that workers are not being paid their humble wages across the country. All that matters is to grab positions over which they had bludgeoned themselves since inauguration in May. Now that positions seem settled, the time has come to shovel funds generously into their pockets.

This must be the best job in the world Is it possible that these NASS members have hurled home the sums we hear they have hurled in just three months of bickering and taking recesses? Is it true that about N13 billion has been shared by our lawmakers already? Is it true that each of the senators has been paid at least N36 million, while each of the House of Representatives members has pocketed about N25 million so far?

It is scary that all our lawmakers including supposed ‘noble’ men and women (like Ben Murray-Bruce and Dino Melaye) in these pristine chambers would not take a definitive and open stance against what is obviously an obscene, under-the-table payouts. How on earth did the NASS arrive at an annual budget of N120 billion (N150billion up till last year)? Why should NASS comprising of only 469 lawmakers have a bureaucracy of about 4660 civil servants?

Even at that, why would a NASS with a total head count of 5129 persons have an annual budget of N120 billion, while a state like Benue for instance, with a population of about 4.2 million people has an annual budget of N98.5 billion? To think that such states like Benue would have to also provide infrastructure and public utilities, such as roads, water, health and educational facilities, among others. What this suggests is that the NASS may not need more than N25 billion in total annual budget.

We will therefore expect the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in all its twiddling and twaddling about fixing legislators’ emoluments and pay cuts, tell us what N120 billion is used for.

The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF), which ought to scrutinise all appropriated spendings in the federation, has been remiss in its duties. It is its duty to ensure that every kobo of this whopping sum is accounted for.

Members of NASS have been sharing cash as if they were hooded bandits sharing booty this last decade because the federal audit system had become near moribund. Since it has become obvious that Saraki is anything but a change agent and that it seems his leadership would be worse than Mark’s, Nigerians must brace up to effect the change they need by themselves. Enough is enough! Who needs the Senate anyway?

http://thenationonlineng.net/like-mark-like-saraki/