Saraki Again Shuts Senate As Trial Resumes Today At Code Of Conduct Tribunal

Bukola Saraki-CCTAhead of the resumption of his trial today at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has again shutdown the sitting of the Senate to enable senators accompany him to his trial.

At the end of yesterday’s sitting, Saraki said the sitting has been adjourned to November 10.

But in an interview with reporters to debunk the rumours that the adjournment had anything to do with the Senate president’s resumed trial, the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, said sitting was adjourned to enable adhoc committees work on their reports.

“The sitting was adjourned to Tuesday to enable four adhoc committees complete their reports and submit next week”, he said.

In previous appearances at the tribunal, more than 60 senators had showed up with Mr. Saraki at his hearings in solidarity.

Saraki was alleged to have operated foreign accounts while being the Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011 and transferred the sum of $73, 223.28 from his GTB domiciliary account to an American Express account.

In the charge sheet, he was further alleged to have made anticipatory declaration and false declaration in the Assets Declaration Form for Public Officers on assumption of office as the executive Governor of Kwara State in 2003 in respect of some Lagos properties.

It would be recalled that Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar had adjourned till November 5 and 6 to enable the tribunal await the judgment of the Appeal Court, where Saraki had challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.

However, the Court of Appeal, Abuja division last Friday, October 30, dismissed the Senate president’s appeal in a split decision of two Justices to one.

The Appellate Court held that the charge against the Senate president was in order.

In a swift reaction, he approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the jurisdiction of CCT to try him.

He is also praying the Supreme Court to stop his trial over the alleged offences pending the determination of his appeal.

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