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Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal must go on, the Supreme Court ruled this morning in a unanimous decision read by Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen.
The Court of Appeal had ruled that the CCT was right to try Saraki on 13 count charges of false assets declaration.
Also recall that three-judge panel of the Supreme Court led by a retiring Justice John Fabiyi had on December 4, 2015, ordered a stay of proceeding by the Tribunal pending the determination of Mr. Saraki’s appeal. The court also asked counsel on both sides to submit their briefs of argument within 14 days. The court then fixed February 5, 2016, to deliver its judgement.
Mr. Saraki’s appeal before the country’s apex court contends that the CCT lacks jurisdiction to try him. His lawyers argue that the tribunal was not duly constituted as it comprised two instead of three members provided for by the Constitution.
His lawyers claim that the charges against Mr. Saraki were not competent. But the court in a unanimous decision dismissed Mr. Saraki’s appeal, stating the charges were both valid and competent.
Saraki will now face trial at the court of appeal for false declaration of asset on a day to be fixed by the tribunal.