Senate Of Criminals: 9 Nigerian Senators Facing Criminal Charges (SEE LIST)

At least, 9 out of 109 members of the Nigerian Senate are enmeshed in criminal cases, with nine of the cases at various stages of trials in courts, while one is still being investigated.

The number of the lawmakers represents 10 percent of the members of the upper legislative chamber, one of the bodies responsible for making laws for the country.

The majority of the cases are related to allegations of corruption, running into billions of naira that the senators are accused of misappropriating.

About six of the lawmakers have been docked at various courts for trial on fraud charges, most of them former governors.

Two of the senators, however, are facing charges of forgery and drug offences, respectively, while the last one has been interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes, Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud.

Among the lawmakers, are the leadership of the Red Chamber, chairs and deputy chairs of sensitive Senate committees.

1). Bukola Saraki

Bukola Saraki

He is facing a 13-count charge at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) bordering on false assets declaration while he was the governor of his home state and his spouse, Mrs. Toyin Saraki has a file at the EFCC over alleged squandering of Kwara State funds.

2). Ahmed Sani Yarima

Ahmed Sani Yerima

In January, he was docked on a 19-count charge of corruption by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the Zamfara State High Court in Gusau.
The commission accused him of diverting part of the N1 billion project funds for the repair of collapsed Gusau Dam and resettlement of the victims of flood to other purposes.

3.) Danjuma Goje

Danjuma Goje

Along with four others, Danjuma is facing an 18- count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud to N25bn instituted by the EFCC. The case was transferred to Jos from Gombe in 2015 on the instruction of the Chief Justice of the Federation over security concerns.  Hearing in the case was adjourned to April 12 this year.

4). Abdullahi Adamu

Abdullahi Adamu

In Feb 2010, the EFCC arrested the lawmaker for allegedly misappropriating N15billion alongside 18 others. He was subsequently arraigned on a 149-count charge of fraud to the tune of N15 billion, before Justice Ibrahim Buba, who was later replaced in the case by Justice Marcel Awokulehin.

5). Abdulaziz Nyako

Abdulaziz Nyako

In July last year, the EFCC docked Abdulaziz and his father, the former governor of Adamawa State, at a Federal High Court in Abuja cases of alleged corruption. They were arraigned before Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 37-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

6). Joshua Chibi Dariye

Joshua Dariye

Dariye has been standing trial since 2007 on a 23-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office and corruption. He was accused of embezzling over N1.2billion ecological funds.

7). Ike Ekweremadu

Ike Ekweremadu

Ekweremadu, who has been occupying the position since the era of Senator David Mark in 2007, is facing a forgery case at the Federal High Court. His colleagues, namely Senator Abu Ibrahim, Kabiru Marafa, Robert Boroffice, Gbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, dragged him and others to the court over alleged forgery of the Senate standing orders, the document used for the conduct of the Senate elections.

8). Kashamu Buruji

Kashamu Buruji

He is facing a threat of extradition from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), acting on the request of the United States. In May 2015, a Federal High Court in Lagos stopped the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) and nine others from arresting the senator for extradition to the United States over alleged drug-related offences.

9). Godswill Obot Akpabio

Godswill Obot Akpabio

Akpabio, who is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, was twice invited by the EFCC last year, over allegation of N108bn fraud. The invitation was in connection to a petition by an Abuja-based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, who accused the senator of looting the said amount belonging to the Akwa-Ibom government and called for his probe.

Source: Sahara Reporters