A scanned copy of a British passport purportedly belonging to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, was forged, UK authorities have stated.

The authorities however admitted that Mr. Saraki holds a valid British passport.

The controversial passport, with the name Olybukola Saraki, and number 306077175 was published by a news website as evidence of Mr. Saraki’s dual citizenship and subsequent ineligibility to hold public office in Nigeria.

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 naturalization and registration that has the requirement to take an oath of allegiance,” he said on Facebook.

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