The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, challenging the validity of his trial on charges of
assets declaration preferred against him at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal.
A seven-man panel of the apex court presided over by the Chief
Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously ruled on Friday
that Saraki’s appeal against the jurisdiction of the trial and
competence of the charges, lacked merit.
Justice Wallter Onnoghen, who read the lead judgment, held that
contrary to Saraki’s contention, the Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct
Tribunal was validly constituted by two members.
Justice Onnoghen also held that the tribunal was by the provisions
of its enabling laws and the Constitution conferred with the
quasi-criminal jurisdiction and thus could validly issue bench warrant.
He thus held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was applicable to the proceedings of the tribunal.
He dismissed the allegation by Saraki that he was not properly
served with the charges and also held that the charges filed before the
CCT before the appointment of the Attorney-General of the Federation
were valid.
He also noted that there was an attempt by Saraki to intimidate the
CCT by claiming that it disobeyed the order of a Federal High Court
barring it from continuing with the proceedings pending the
determination a suit filed by the Senate President to challenge the
trial.
“I have looked at the records, there is no where such orders was made,” Justice Onnoghen ruled.
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