The Federal government has last week opposed a fresh application filed by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, seeking the disqualification of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar from further presiding over his trial on charges of false and anticipatory asset declaration.
The Senate president filed a fresh application for the second time asking the CCT Chairman to withdraw from his trial based on the alleged ongoing investigation of his involvement in N10m bribery allegation. Saraki in the application accused him of been biased against him during the June 7 proceeding where he warned the defense Counsel against delay tactics in the course of the trial.
Executive Chairman of Coalition Againt Corrupt Leader, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, in his reaction to the development supported the position of the Federal government. He stated that Saraki is trying to use the tactics to get lesser sanction, get sympathy from the people and also buy some time for himself.
Umar made the statement and which was ‘picked-up’ by Saraki when he was warning the defense that their delay tactics would not reduce the consequence that the defendant will meet at the end of the trial. Saraki claims the statement will prejudice the outcome of his trial.
In agreeing with the Federal government Adeniran explained that since the statement made by the CCT Chairman was quoted out of context, Saraki’s accusation remain baseless and attention should not be paid to it. He said that the CCT should carry out its constitutional duties without fear or favour and that the trial needs to be sped up and let justice prevail.
In concluding he said “like we said before, that with a background like that of Saraki and considering that he oscillates between sitting in the criminal suspects’ box in the CCT as a criminal suspect and sitting as President of the Senate in the hallowed Chambers of the National Assembly as the President of the Senate doubling as the Chairman of the National Assembly, the situation becomes an aberration and makes him a misfit to occupy a seat in the Nigerian Senate in the first place and unfit to continue to occupy the exalted position of the Senate Presidency.’’
Signed
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
June 22, 2016
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