Appeal Court dismisses Saraki’s objection to trial by CCT; Senate President goes to Supreme Court

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, should stand trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal to face charges of false declaration of assets, corruption, among others preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Senator Saraki, dissatisfied with the ruling is said to be heading for the Supreme Court to challenge the position of the Court of Appeal. Saraki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), is leading the way .

Saraki had gone to the Court of Appeal to challenge his trial by the CCT over failure to fully declare his assets as the Governor of Kwara State.

However, the Court of Appeal delivering its ruling, Friday morning, Justice Moore Adumen, said the trial of Saraki by the CCT was in order.

Adumen said the Tribunal was in the first instance misled into believing that the Federal High Court once ordered the stoppage of Saraki’s trial.

The Court of Appeal also held that by virtue of Section 174(1) and (2), the absence of an Attorney General of the Federation does not stop Saraki’s trial.

It held that the section justifies the filing of the charges against Saraki by M.S. Hassan, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Dauda (SAN) disagreed with the ruling and has said that the Senate President will challenge it at the Supreme Court.