New reports reveal the scanned copy of the British passport belonging to the Senate President Bukola Saraki earlier uploaded online by a news platform was forged.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
SaharaReporters uploaded scanned copies of the British passport of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki a few months ago with the claim that he is not eligible to be the Senate President of Nigeria on the basis of citizenship. Meanwhile the United Kingdom authorities have moved to debunk the authenticity of the scanned passport as it has been declared forged.
The passport carries the name Olubukola Saraki, and number 306077175. Though Mr. Saraki confessed that he has a UK passport obtained by virtue of his being born in the country, he said the passport published by the website was not his and may have been forged.
In a statement released by his special assistant on new media, Bamikole Omishore, the senate president said he instructed his attorney to contact the UK Passport Office to investigate what he termed an “act of criminality.”
Mr. Saraki further explained that only those who voluntarily obtained the citizenship of another country are disqualified from holding public office.
“It is important to state that the requirement to forfeit Nigerian nationality/citizenship upon acquisition of the nationality/citizenship of another country does not apply to persons who are Nigerians by birth within the definition of Section 25 of the Constitution. This section also acknowledges and protects the right to hold citizenship by birth of another country.
“Citizens of a country by birth do not need to swear to an oath of allegiance to that country. It is only a citizenship acquired through naturalisation and registration that has the requirement to take an oath of allegiance,” he said on Facebook.
In response to inquiry into the matter by Mr. Saraki’s lawyer, Andrew Stephenson of Discreet Law, London, Her Majesty Passport Office confirmed that the published passport was forged.
The letter, made available to PREMIUM TIMES by Mr .Saraki’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, with reference number, Disc/Info/SARAKI/030915 and signed by C. Emery of Disclosure of Information department of HM Passport Office, confirmed that Mr. Saraki was issued a British passport on June 29, 2006, which will expire on 29 June, 2016. The number of Saraki’s genuine passport was, however, redacted in the letter.