A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, said the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, acted on wrong counsel when he shunned the Code of Conduct Tribunal to answer criminal charges levelled against him.

He said it was immoral of Saraki to be employing different delay tactics to ridicule the court, scandalise the judge and frustrate the due process of law, rather than go before the CCT.

He also wondered whether his colleagues would not frustrate the anti-corruption effort of the Federal Government, saying there was need for change of orientation among lawyers.

Noting that the CCT, like an election petition tribunal, was a special court, Awomolo wondered why Saraki would be advised to head for a Federal High Court to challenge his pending case before the CCT.

“I think the Senate President was wrongly advised to stay away from the tribunal. The tribunal acted within the law to have proceeded with the arraignment and order for his arrest.

“Whether the charges filed were lawful or whether the senior state counsel who filed the charges was authorised or not are matters that should have been taken before the tribunal, not before the Federal High Court.

“The Supreme Court has made it clear that any cause, matter or claim which does not arise from or relate to specified items under Section 251(1) of the Constitution, should not be filed at the Federal High Court no matter the parties.

“We all know that the decision or interpretation of the vailidity of jurisdiction or competence of the charges filed before the CCT or the so-called locus standi of the state counsel is ulra vires the Federal High Court.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act allows any officer of the Ministry of Justice to institute charges before the tribunal and no such authority can be challenged by any person,” Awomolo argued in a statement on Monday.

He also faulted the appeal filed by Saraki’s counsel, Chief Joseph Daudu, against the order of Justice Umar Danladi, who ordered Saraki’s arrest.

He added, “Now,  an appeal was allegedly filed against the decision of the tribunal that the IGP should produce the Senate President. Where is the right to appeal under the Act? The only right to appeal is limited to final decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The counsel for the Senate President knows the law.

“Why scandalise the chairman for doing his job?  Think for a moment If an election petition is filed at election tribunal, do you ask a Federal High Court to determine its validity or competence of the petitioner?

“It is important that counsel should consider the status of his client before adopting a strategy.

“For the number three  citizen to employ mundane  strategies that ridicules the administration of justice, scandalise the judge, appeal where there is no right of appeal and apply for a stay of proceedings to frustrate his trial rather than face the due process of the law, is sad, immoral and diminishing of the esteem of his office. It is insensitive and lacking in integrity, with respect.”

www.punchng.com/news/saraki-san-warns-lawyers-against-scandalising-cct/

Hmmmmm

kool

Ok

:PSaraki be like a troublesome rat, when pursed, mistakenly entered an empty room. Let's see how his 'competent lawyers' get him out of this. APC - POWER! lol

We know before now in nigeria that the constitution is made for the poor not the rich. If if is not dirty, why is he trying to avert facing what that is facing him. #Nigeriaequalrightformouth

Saraki is a goner !!!

saraki is guilty of his misconduct he should honorably resign from his post he's a thief and should be jailed.

"Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is" -Albert Camus.
So after all these hide and seek, delay tactics and playing to the gallery to buy public sympathy and scandalized the tribunal he finally decided to appear before the CCT. I have counsel him in many fora including his twitter to do the needful by submitting himself to the tribunal and prove his innocence.
It is a natural law that he who will come to equity must do equity, you cannot be hiding from judiciary process and at the same time seeking judicial cover.

Where is that LLB Agbakoba? Or whatever qualification he possesses? He should sound out other eminent views.

well said. Professionals are our biggest challenge in this nation not the Politicians.

Awomoolo is leading Ilorin, Kwara senior lawyer.

It's unfortunate Agbakoba has become "chop chop" lawyer aiding criminals like Saraki since the days of last administration.

Saraki, see yourself!

Omotolu:
Where is that LLB Agbakoba? Or whatever qualification he possesses? He should sound out other eminent views.

Agbakoba fall my band

This was exactly my position since last week that you cannot appeal a judgement that doesn't exist. You have the right of appeal towards the CCT final judgement. How can you appeal against a trial, especially from you bedroom and not the court that you are questioning its eligibility?
Like this guy said, how many politicians has ever challenged the eligibility of the electoral tribunal?
Because they knew the tribunal will carry on without them and by the time they show up, their political seat is gone and given to their opponent for lack of contest.
The same law the empowered the electoral tribunal empowers the code of conduct tribunal.

Haba Chief Awomolo! You don't want your "learned friend" to chop part of saraki's loot

Agbakoba is indeed a mushroom SAN or a corrupt SAN in itself.

This is a learned constitutional lawyer that knows his onion.