Stop accusing CCT Chairman wrongly, EFCC cautions Senate President

dimeji akinloye

April 27, 2016 7:04 PM

Oluyede, who had accused the Chairman of bias in Saraki's case questioned his reputation and moral stand in prosecuting the Senate President.

Bukola Saraki

Jacobs stated this on Wednesday, April 27, while reacting to the application by Saraki’s counsel, Raphael Oluyede, asking Umar to disqualify himself from the ongoing trial due to corruption allegations against him.

Umar had been investigated by the EFCC for corruption to the tune of N10m and for meeting with an accused person privately in his chambers which he admitted.

Oluyede, who had accused the Chairman of bias in Saraki's case questioned his reputation and morality in prosecuting the Senate President.

“This application is aimed at maligning the person of the judge. My lord, I will urge you to dismiss this application,” Jacobs said while countering Oluyede's application.

He disclosed that the EFCC had in two separate letters cleared Umar of all corruption allegations.

Oluyede, however, queried the action of the anti-graft agency, in which the commission issued a letter clearing Umar of any complexity in the alleged N10 million bribe scandal.

“Why is the EFCC yielding a sword of Damocus against the tribunal Chairman,” he asked.

Saraki's counsel argued that the EFCC in the two letters written by the anti-graft agency to clear Umar of corruption charges, it did not clearly exonerate him from further investigation.

READ: Presidency and National Assembly resolve differences - Saraki

Quoting from one of the letters, Oluyede said, “For now, we have no evidence to prosecute Umar.”

He explained that the letter indicated that Umar is subject to future investigations on alleged bribe, thereby casting doubt on his credibility to preside over the matter.

He however urged the CCT Chairman to resign from the trial on the grounds that, to Nigerians, it would seem the legitimacy of the trial is been eroded.

Following the heated arguments that ensued between the two counsels, Umar adjourned the matter till Thursday, April 27, for continuation of trial and cross examination of the first prosecution witness.

dimeji akinloye