I WONT FORCE SENATORS TO DECLARE ASSETS PUBLICLY

 
Senate President Bukola Saraki will not ask senators to declare their assets publicly or in any manner that is contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu has said.

When asked whether the Senate President would consider public declaration of assets by senators to end the controversy over asset declarations as well as his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Saraki said that what is to be done has been highlighted in the constitution.

“Is that what the law says? What is to be done has been highlighted in the constitution. The Senate President cannot advise his colleagues to do anything other than what the law says. The law requires every senator to declare his assets and show evidence of that before being sworn in as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is being complied with by the lawmakers,” he said .

The Senate President is currently on trial at the CCT over alleged false declaration of assets, a suit that has become entangled in counter suits at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Many had voiced the view that perhaps, public declaration of assets by public office holders would solve the problem.

But senators have often insisted on fulfilling the law, without a recourse to public declaration of assets.

President Muhammadu Buhari had made public declaration of assets a campaign issue but he has only so far issued a statement indicating details of his asset declaration.

The presidency said last week that the president was not about to compel ministers to declare their assets publicly.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said in a reply to our inquiries that the president would abide by the constitution on the issue.