Deputy Leader of the Senate, Ibn Na’Allah has said that he believes that Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is about persecution, not prosecution.
Na’Allah insisted that the senate has a responsibility to stand by him because the trial is a political trial.
In an interview, Na’Allah reportedly said “You see, it is a matter of belief and I am going to tell you in very clear language.
“The belief of the 8th Senate and substantial number of the senators is that the trial of the President of the Senate is persecution rather than prosecution.
“If it is persecution, we believe that we have a responsibility to stand by him.
“But if it is prosecution, every senator of the federal republic believes and rightly so, that this government must be given all the necessary assistance it requires to fight corruption.”
He added that “Let me be honest with you; from the little that I know, the senate sees the trial as more of a political trial than a trial intended specifically for the purpose for which it should be done.
“It may be wrong, it may be right, but the circumstances of the trial and for the reason that the subject matter of the trial occurred about 12 or 13 years ago, you cannot fault the senators if they come to that conclusion.
“I am not so sure that you can say that the substantial number of people who believe that this trial is wrong can, at the same time, be said to be wrong.
“We keep on hoping that those who want to assist this government honestly and sincerely will see the wisdom in portraying this government in the best tradition of democratic society.”