Senate President, Bukola Saraki is currently involved in a legal tussle with the Code of Conduct Tribunalafter he refused to appear before it to defend himself on corruption charges.
Why Saraki deserves to be arrested
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has charged Saraki with 13 counts of fraud relating to his asset declaration process.
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The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has charged Saraki with 13 counts of fraud relating to his asset declaration process.
Saraki was summoned to appear before the tribunal on Friday, September 18, 2015, but he instead sent his lawyers to present a Federal High Court judgment seeking to suspend the trial.
He later explained that he stayed away from the court“on counsel received that the tribunal will respect the decision of the Federal High Court.”
This excuse, which is all it is, is inadequate and even adds insult to the injury already done by Saraki
The Senate President’s actions show contempt for Nigeria’s judicial processand he deserves to be arrested, like any ordinary citizen would be.
The CCB was established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which Saraki vowed, during his inauguration, to support and uphold.
Hence, the Senate President’s failure to appear before the tribunal is a departure from the oath he swore, the very oath which bestowed upon him the power he now holds.
Saraki needs to let go of the God-complex which has become an unfortunate characteristic of many Nigerian leaders and realize that
It would do the Senate President good to remember that the era of impunity has ended and, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina put it, a “new sheriff is in town.”
Therefore, Saraki needs to respect the courts or be arrested and stripped of the honour which he is protecting so zealously. Besides if he is certain of his innocence, what is he so afraid of?
As Queen Elizabeth I said, “a clear and innocent conscience fears nothing” so the Senate President needs to stop running and face the lawfor it is only then he can prove that his hands are clean...if they truly are.
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