9 of 109 members of the Nigerian Senate in criminal cases.

A total of 9 out of 109 members of the Nigerian Senate in the 8th National Assembly are enmeshed in criminal cases.

With nine of the cases at various stages of trials in courts, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki is scheduled to kick off his trial in few weeks.

Sadly

, the number of the lawmakers facing various criminal charges ranging from corruption to false declaration of assets represents 10 per cent of the members of the Senate.

Pulse brings you the list of these lawmakers, who are battling to save their face, name and political career. 

Bukola Saraki; Senate President, Kwara Central

Leading the list of the senators facing criminal charges is the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. The two-term governor of Kwara State and current number one lawmaker is currently 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. The CCT has fixed March 10, for continuation of Saraki’s trial.

Ike Ekweremadu; Dep. Senate President, Enugu West

Saraki is not the only one at the helms of affair as his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is also facing criminal charges. 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. The case was instituted by his colleagues, 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.

Godswill Akpabio; Minority Leader, Akwa-Ibom North West

Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is an ex-governor of Akwa Ibom state and is being investigated for corruption. He was invited twice by the EFCC in 2015 over allegation of N108bn fraud. 

Danjuma Goje; Chairman of Senate Committees, Gombe Central

The former governor of Gombe State is a second time Senator and is facing an 18- count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud to N25bn with four others as 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. The case was adjourned to April 12, 2016.

Ahmed Sani Yarima; Chairman of Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Zamfara West

This three-term senator and former governor of Zamfara State had been 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 Yarima 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 in 2006.

Abdullahi Adamu; Chairman Senate Commitee on Agriculture, Nasarawa West 

This senator and ex-governor of Nasarawa State was arrested by the EFCC In Feb 2010 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 on the case by Justice Marcel Awokulehin. Adamu and his co-accused challenged the charge and after losing, subsequently appealed the ruling to the Court of Appeal sitting in Markudi, Benue State. The case is still ongoing.

Abdulaziz Nyako; Chairman Committee on Special Duties

Son of former Governor Murtala Nyako, Abdulaziz was first docked alongside his father in June 2015 at a Federal High Court in Abuja over 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. They were accused of using five companies to siphon over N15billion.

Joshua Dariye; Chairman Committee on Solid Minerals, Plateau Central

This former governor of Plateau State 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.

Buruji Kashamu; Vice Chairman Committee on States and Local Governments, Ogun East

 Senator Kashamu Buruji met his waterloo after his fallout with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, thus exposing his alleged drug peddling case. He is currently facing possible extradition from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on request from 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.