Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday, had his appeal seeking to stop his trial over alleged false assets declaration, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), dismissed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In the lead judgment taken by Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, the court held that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over Saraki’s trial.
Justice Onnoghen also held that the tribunal was by the provisions of its enabling laws and the Constitution conferred with the quasi-criminal jurisdiction and thus could validly issue bench warrant.
He thus held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was applicable to the proceedings of the tribunal.
He dismissed the allegation by Saraki that he was not properly served with the charges and also held that the charges filed before the CCT before the appointment of the Attorney-General of the Federation were valid.
He also noted that there was an attempt by Saraki to intimidate the CCT by claiming that it disobeyed the order of a Federal High Court barring it from continuing with the proceedings pending the determination a suit filed by the Senate President to challenge the trial.
“I have looked at the records, there is no where such orders was made,” Justice Onnoghen ruled.
The CJN and other Justices on the panel agreed with the judgment.
The rest of the panel members who consented are Justices Tanko Muhammad, Sylvester Ngwuta, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chima Nweze and Amiru Sanusi.
After the judgment on Friday, an army of political associates, who attended the proceedings walked out of the court quietly.
Following the Supreme Court judgment it is expected that the CCT will soon issue hearing notice for the continuation of the Senate President’s trial on three counts of false assets declaration.
It also resolved the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants against Saraki.
The Court of Appeal had ruled that the CCT was right to try Saraki on 13 count charges of false assets declaration.
All the six issues raised against the appeal court judgment by Saraki were resolved in favour of the prosecution.