| Saraki in the duck |
The Code of Conduct Tribunal
has ruled that it has jurisdiction to entertain charges of 13-counts of false
asset declaration brought against Nigeria Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
In his ruling, Justice Danladi
Umar cited relevant sections of the constitution empowering the Tribunal to
hear matters of such nature, stating that the principle of fair hearing had
been exhaustively applied to both parties, hence, Defence Counsel, Kanu Agabi’s
motion on the question of jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, despite
Supreme Court’s ruling on the same matter was unnecessary.
Justice Danladi further pounded
his reasons which knocked out Agabi’s argument that the investigation report
that Saraki was being charged for was both carried out by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission and the Federal Ministry of Justice and in such a situation,
the Attorney General of the Federation could initiate proceedings.
Invoking section 174 of the
Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Justice Danladi reminded both
Counsels that the Attorney General of the Federation who is the Chief law
officer has powers to take over criminal proceeding against anyone, thus, if
such was was to be applied in this circumstance, the federal government has not
erred in law in Saraki’s trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Citing section 3 of the
Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and other
extant laws, Danladi opined that it was an affront on the nation that a suspect
seeks to evade Justice when the issues bothers on corruption and abuse of
office.
He noted that Code of Conduct
Tribunal is a special court, a creation of the constitution itself exclusively
to try matters of corruption in public offices, and so the motion has been
quashed and struck out. Danladi ordered that trial of Saraki should continue as
charged.