Despite accusations hurled at him for his alleged involvement in a high-level corruption scandal, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil's former president, is contemplating a possible return to office in the 2018 elections.

Lula da Silva said that he would be willing to make himself available for the candidacy if a need for it arises. He also downplayed the age factor and assured his supporters that despite reaching 72 years in the upcoming election, he still has "the desire of a 30-year-old to be president of the republic."

Brazil's head of state between 2003 and 2011 made this pronouncement during an event staged for the governing Workers' Party's 36th anniversary, to which he was also a part of, The Guardian reported.

Apart from his old age, another major obstacle Lula da Silva has to overcome on his way to the country's highest office is the corruption charges he is facing.

Brazilian authorities have just started a probe regarding the former president's link to the corruption scandal at the state-run Petrobras oil company, where other high-profile politicians and businessmen have also been implicated.

The investigators are looking into possible bribery and rigging charges, wherein companies are believed to have paid huge sums of money in order to obtain contracts for various projects from Petrobras. In the end, the costs of these projects have reportedly been inflated for the benefit of these businessmen.

Meanwhile, Lula da Silva was accused of reaping benefits during his term as president, The Wall Street Journal reported. The authorities are now looking into his connection with construction companies involved in the corruption scandal. These companies allegedly made some renovations on two real estate properties owned by Lula da Silva.

The former Brazilian leader has already denied the allegations. His spokesperson said that Lula da Silva has "always acted within the law before, during and after his two terms as president." The spokesperson also said that Lula da Silva does not own the properties in question.

This corruption issue has already taken a toll on his potential bid for the presidency as early as now. According to a survey among 2,000 respondents from different states in the country conducted by the MDA polling firm, seven out of 10 Brazilians believe that Lula da Silva has something to do with the corruption scandal.