The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is set to take a new dimension as the charges brought against him have been increased to 16.

The CCB had on April 18 added two charges to the suit against Saraki and has now increased it by an additional charge.

The new amendments was accepted by the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar after they were introduced by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs despite the objections from the defence counsel led by Paul Usoro (SAN) who argued before the court that the prosecution required a motion to give the reasons for the amendment before the tribunal could accept it.

The prosecution accused Saraki of failing to declare his interest in “an American Express Service Card with No: 374588216836009 wherein you (Saraki) transferred huges sums of money in dollars from your Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account No 441441953210 in Nigeria to the American Express Service, Europe, whilst you Executive Governor of Kwara State.”

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is believed to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

Following the reading of the charges to the defendant, the defence team will continue the cross-examination of the prosecution witness, Micheal Wetkas.

The first amendment to the charges added 2 other charges on which the senate president will conti ued to be tried.

One of the charges alleged that Saraki continued to receive salary and emoluments as Governor of Kwara State after the end of his tenue while at the same time getting paid as from the Federal Government as a senator between June 2011 and October 2013.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

The other included charge accused Saraki of failing to declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2003, his leasehold interest leasehold in the property at 42, Remi Fani Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15(1)(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.