SARAKI ASKS SUPREME COURT TO HALT CORRUPTION TRIAL

The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has appealed to the Supreme Court to halt his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, last week, dismissed Mr. Saraki’s objection to the trial, affirming the
powers of the tribunal to hear a 13-count charge of alleged false assets declaration and corruption brought by the Code of Conduct Bureau against the senate president.
The court also said the tribunal was properly constituted.
Joseph Daudu, the lead counsel to Mr. Saraki, told PREMIUM TIMES that the aim of the appeal before the Supreme Court was to set aside the decision of the court of appeal, regarding the composition of tribunal.
“We think that that is wrong in law; and the other reasons are the other cases which we have appealed against,” said Mr. Daudu.
“When the court of appeal gives a decision, the person that pleads against that decision has a right to appeal to a further court; in this case the Supreme Court,” he added.
Mr. Saraki is billed to appear for trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday, November 5.
Asked whether Mr. Saraki’s legal team will make an appearance Thursday, Mr. Daudu said “Let us wait till on the 5th then see what happens. I think it’s too early to start commenting on that.”

Court of Appeal ruling

Mr. Saraki had asked the court of appeal to determine whether or not the tribunal was right in issuing a bench warrant against him.
He also asked the court to explain if any other person, other than the Attorney General of the Federation, could file criminal charges against him.
He questioned the composition of the tribunal with less than three members, as required by law.
Finally Saraki had asked the court of appeal to nullify the decisions of the CCT for allegedly violating the decision of the high court.
But the presiding Judge, justice Moore Adumein, on Wednesday, October 30 ruled that the appeal brought before it by Mr. Sraki lacked merit.