I never concealed my dual citizenship

The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has denied media report that he concealed his dual citizenship in the Independent National Electoral Commission form he filled to seek return to the National Assembly in the 2015 election.

The information usually is under: Personal particular of person seeking election. Saraki said holding the citizenship of another country does not preclude, disqualify or nullify a person from having, acquiring or retaining Nigerian citizenship by birth. An online media had reported that on the question of the circumstances of his birth, Senator Saraki had played fast and loose with the facts. The online media obtained a copy of his birth certificate, which proves that he was born on December 19, 1962 as Olubukola Adebisi Olabowale Saraki but curiously Saraki’s birth was not registered until a year later in 1963. This is contrary to his name on his INEC documents, which he wrote as Abubakar Bukola Saraki. A statement issued by media aide to the Senate president explained that there is no evidence that Saraki‎ took an oath of allegiance or intentionally attempted to conceal his UK citizenship, especially as he has never denied holding the citizenship. The statement also revealed that the UK home office and the United Kingdom passport office have started investigating how the online media forged his United Kingdom passport. The statement reads: “Holding dual citizenship does not mean that a public office holder, like the Senate President had earlier changed his nationality in the past; it simply means he has held both citizenships simultaneously without the need to acquire one after the other. As both were acquired by birth, the Senate President automatically had both citizenships ‘bestowed’ on him from the moment of his birth. “To this end, citizens of a country by birth do not need to swear to an oath of allegiance to that country; it is only citizenship acquired through naturalization and registration that have the requirement to take an oath of allegiance. Above all, there is no evidence that Dr. Saraki took an oath of allegiance or intentionally attempted to conceal his UK citizenship – especially as he has never denied holding the citizenship in question “One is however uncomprehensible as it beats ordinary sense of imagination of how the online media went to extent of producing and pasting fake UK passport claiming it to be that of Senator Bukola Saraki. What on earth would the online media benefit from such “pull him down at all cost” syndrome? This is an indication that the online media outfit is out to tarnish the image of the President of the Senate. It is a confirmation of the fact that Online media is doing the bidding of its pay masters which is well known to all and sundry as the man behind the scene will soon be exposed and brought to the public domain. “It is also of importance to state categorically here that Senator Saraki’s UK passport as posted on the website of of the online media is a forged document that deserve thorough investigation by the UK Home and passport Office. Senator Saraki on the 19th of July 2015, has instructed his Solicitors in UK to write the UK Home Office to commence immediate investigation into this act of criminality. “There is no doubt that this is a typical criminal offence against the State and also an act of defamation of character against the President of the Senate and whoever is found responsible should be prosecuted. The question that needs to be unravelled thereof by the UK Home and passport Office, among other things; where did that online media get a forged or fake UK passport which it claims it belongs to Senator Saraki and decided to post same on its website? “To this end, it is no longer shocking, based on the antecedents of that online media the extent to which and its sponsors are willing to go to malign the person of Senator Saraki; passing off a forged/fake document as authentic is no doubt a criminal offence in every jurisdiction. “Now that the entire public has clarity on the online media and its criminal indulgence, Sahara Reporters needs to explain the source of this fake document to the UK Home Office. “The online media, its cronies, allies and sponsors must be ready to face the full course of law upon conclusion of the investigation by the UK Authorities. We hereby urge the public to remain vigilant and be watchful of reports and and stories published by the online media as they may be laced with blatant lies, deceit and criminality devoid of any iota of truth. We shall make public, the outcome of the investigation by the UK Home office and passport office.