The Code of Conduct Tribunal has dismissed an application by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, for false asset declaration charges against him to be dropped.
Mr. Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, had argued that the 13-count charge was invalid procedurally because the Code of Conduct Bureau which filed the charges, failed to allow Mr. Saraki explain discrepancies in his assets declaration forms as required by law.
But in his ruling Thursday, the chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, said there was no breach of law as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1989, still allows the senate president raise his clarifications at the level of the tribunal.
Mr. Danladi said by law, the CCB could receive complaints of breach of the Act and refer such complaints to the Tribunal, provided that it will allow the person involved to give a statement affirming or denying the said misconduct.
Also, upholding the argument made by the prosecution, Mr. Umar said Section 3 (e) of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution gives the bureau the right to receive complaints of such nature and where necessary refer such matter to the tribunal.
According to Mr. Danladi, Section 174 of the Constitution also gives the Attorney General of the Federation the prerogative to file criminal proceedings and does not owe any explanations to any one on how to go about it.
He therefore ordered the continuation of the trial.
Mr. Saraki had earlier lost his bid to stop the trial after the the Supreme Court dismissed his initial objections.
Bukola Saraki, had returned to the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.
Mr. Saraki arrived the CCT at 9:53am, Thursday, amidst cheers from his colleague senators who had arrived earlier.
Mr. Saraki’s trial began in September 2015 on a 13-count charge brought by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
At the last sitting on March 18, Mr. Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, asked the court to strike out the case, saying the charge was invalid.
Mr. Agabi said the CCB failed to, as required by law, invite Mr. Saraki to explain discrepancies in his asset form before bringing charges against him.
Mr. Agabi cited a previous judgement of the CCT in the case against former Lagos Governor Ahmed Tinubu in which the tribunal dismissed the charge for similar procedural flaw.
Mr. Saraki had been denied fair hearing by not being allowed to provide explanations first, Mr. Agabi, a former Federal Attorney General, said.

At Thursday’s hearing, Mr. Agabi again announced that Mr. Saraki was represented by 80 lawyers

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/200738-breaking-saraki-loses-code-conduct-tribunal-refuses-quash-corruption-charged

Saraki will appeal and appeal till 2019.
Tinubu did the same thing and he eventually won due to technicalities.

Only saraki's judgement will make me believe in nigeria judiciary. All this ppl below me talking about amaechi and tinubu pls note all nigeria politicians are thief but saraki's offense is that of kwara state and i want him prosecuted for that ppl in rivers and lagos should pray FG or CCT holds their former governors accountable

Saraki should stop fighting the bull by the leg. It doesn't work that way.

midolian:
Saraki should stop fighting the bull by the leg.

It was OK for Tinubu to fight the bull abi?

This is why you should never support evil, your type supported Tinubu for this same offense Saraki is charged with.

Before nko?

He should keep running from pillar to post.

When he is tired, he will sit down to face his trial.

shobroy10:
Only saraki's judgement will make me believe in nigeria judiciary

Why Saraki? Why not Amaechi that has been indicted by several judicial commissions.
You people prefer one thief to another therein lies our problem

Mr. Saraki can't Scott free from dis mess. They will use him as sample for odas .

TippyTop:

It was OK for Tinubu to fight the bull abi?

This is why you should never support evil, your type supported Tinubu for this same offense Saraki is charged with.

wat are u driving at, sometime gravity matters and the atrocities committed by saraki outweigh that of tinubu

olamieseun:
Mr. Saraki can't Scott free from dis mess. They will use him as sample for odas .

AMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN

TippyTop:

It was OK for Tinubu to fight the bull abi?

This is why you should never support evil, your type supported Tinubu for this same offense Saraki is charged with.

pls keep shut!...if you can't provide an evidence of me supporting Tinubu during his trial, just shut it.

Saraki must not be allowed to escape jail. This case will go a long way in truly gauging the body language posture of Buhari regime.

shobroy10:
wat are u driving at, sometime gravity matters and the atrocities committed by saraki outweigh that of tinubu

Please explain the difference.

midolian:
pls keep shut!...if you can't provide an evidence of me supporting Tinubu during his trial, just shut it.

But you fervently support Tinubu at the moment right?
Can you tell me the difference between Saraki's case and that of Tinubu apart from the fact he won his case due to technicalities?

TippyTop:

Why Saraki? Why not Amaechi that has been indicted by several judicial commissions.
You people prefer one thief to another therein lies our problem

wat u fail to know is that i dont have anything against amaechi nor tinubu because both are from another state but saraki stole from my state of origin and thats my pain

But if the all the nation can for once raise our voices against the agents of corruption, the same way we stood against removal of fuel subsidy our country will have been better.

shobroy10:
wat u fail to know is that i dont have anything against amaechi nor tinubu because both are from another state but saraki stole from my state of origin and thats my pain

They're all robbing us of our common wealth, don't matter if the thief is robbing Edo or Zamfara.

superstar1:
Before nko?

He should keep running from pillar to post.

When he is tired, he will sit down to face his trial.

Tinubu won his own due to technicalities, watch Saraki win his own through same route.

TippyTop:


They're all robbing us of our common wealth, don't matter if the thief is robbing Edo or Zamfara.

noted and i will pray to God they should also meet same fate soon

He will appeal this Ruling to the Supreme Court. Then he is going to come back, find another fault, let the CCT rule on it and appeal again to the Supreme Court. When he has exhausted all his Appeals, he'll now come back to this Ruling today and ask that he be allowed to clarify issues with the CCB, before being put on trial. If the CCT overrules him based on the fact that "there should be an end to litigation", he'd appeal that one too.


This case is going to break a lot of hearts. Those who don't know how the Judiciary work, especially.

[s]

rusher14:


Stop trying to distract.

This matter is about Saraki.

When Amaechi, Tinubu even Buhari are brought to justice we would do the same.

For now this is solely about Saraki.

[/s]

Stop berating certain thieves whilst justifying others.
Same reason the people of Ogharra find Ibori to be a saint and Yar'Adua a thief.

Bukola Saraki is finished

''Saraki's Lawyer, Barrister Kanu Agabi''. Another Nwafo defending a thief. What is wrong with we Igbos? Why do we like supporting corruption, convicts, crooks, and criminals

TippyTop:

Tinubu won his own due to technicalities, watch Saraki win his own through same route.

Have you not read the brief on Tinubu's case!

The court erred and once that has already been established, it cannot be used as basis of argument again.

Watching where dis will end

superstar1:


Have you not read the brief on Tinubu's case!

The court erred and once that has already been established, it cannot be used as basis of argument again.

Tinubu won on technicalities, yes or no?

superstar1:


Have you not read the brief on Tinubu's case!

The court erred and once that has already been established, it cannot be used as basis of argument again.

If that error exists and not struck off the records.it will be used as a reference