Produce Saraki on Tuesday; Tribunal orders IGP Arase

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has restated its order directing the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to arrest and produce the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before it by 10:00am, Tuesday, to answer charges pending against him.

It would be recalled that the Code of Conduct Bureau last week filed a thirteen-count corruption charge against Senate President, Dr Olusola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The charge was filed on September 11, 2015 Deputy Director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, M.S Hassan.

Among other charges, Saraki was accused of making false declaration of assets on assumption of office as Kwara State Governor in 2003.

Saraki was also accused of not declaring some assets he acquired while in office, acquiring assets beyond his official earnings and operating foreign accounts in contravention of the law as a public officer.

The tribunal led by Justice Danladi Umar rejected Saraki’s counsel’s prayer to stay proceeding awaiting the outcome of an appeal he filed at the Court, against a bench warrant earlier issued, Friday.

The tribunal also discountenanced the argument by Saraki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), that the newly passed Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), that seeks to discourage undue delay, is not applicable to the tribunal.

It noted that the purported order made last week by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, did not stay the proceedings before the tribunal.