Senate President confident as CCT trial resumes

chika ebuzor

February 6, 2018 8:19 AM

The CCT had earlier cleared the Senate President of the 18-count charge filed against him.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said that he is confident of a favourable decision by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as his trial resumes.

The CCT had earlier clearedthe Senate President of the 18-count charge filed against him.

Saraki, among many charges has been accused of allegedly giving false information while declaring his assets.

Speaking on the issue, the Senate President said that he is innocent and that he will clear his name.

The Cable News also reports that Saraki, who is expected to be in court on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, said “Tomorrow morning, I will be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in respect of 3 of the 18-count charges for which I have previously been cleared by the same Tribunal. This is following the verdict of the court of appeal which ordered that we should go and open our defence on three of the counts,” it read.

“As a lawmaker and a law-abiding citizen in a nation governed by the rule of law, as opposed to the rule of men, I choose to appear before the Tribunal tomorrow — despite having a pending appeal before the supreme court on the same matter.

“My lawyers actually advised that we should apply for a stay of the CCT proceedings pending the determination of the appeal that we earlier filed before the supreme court.

“But I have a different opinion. I feel that despite the pending appeal before the apex court, I should and will put up my defence as regards the three counts. I am convinced of my innocence on these counts and confident consequently of a favourable decision of the tribunal on them. This has always been my position from day one.

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“My greatest interest has always been to clear my name as soon as possible and it is my hope that justice will be expeditiously served by the tribunal.”

Prosecution established case against Saraki

In December 2017, the Court of Appeal in Abuja asked the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to return to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to face trial.

The three-man Court of Appeal panel ruled that the prosecution was able to establish a prima facie case against Saraki in three of the 18 charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Saraki had been charged by the EFCC in 2015 for false assets declaration when he was Kwara state governor.

chika ebuzor