Tribunal rejects Saraki’s petition to quash charges

Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal | YNaija.com

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, threw out the petition of the embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki.

The Senate President had asked the court to quash the criminal charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

While delivering his ruling, The President of the Court, Justice Danladi Umar, stated that the charges against Saraki was valid and legally competent.

He noted that the tribunal has the legal jurisdiction to try the case as mandated by the 1999 constitution.

The Judge – citing the case of FRN vs Atiku Abubakar, 2007, 8-NWLR – averred that it had the constitutional powers to hear the criminal case brought against Saraki.

Justice Umar, however, disclosed that the tribunal made an error in the decision it took in the case of former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

He stated that: “The tribunal has since realised that the decision it made on the case between FRN vs Tinubu was in error and has clearly departed from it.”

Speaking on the argument that the FG waited for 13 years before charging Saraki with any criminal offence, Justice Umar said: “It is not out of place for the prosecution to charge the defendant now. The application to quash the charge is hereby refused.”

“The tribunal hereby re-inforce its jurisdiction in line with the constitution an section 3(d) of the CCB &Tribunal Act.

“Accordingly, the prosecution is hereby ordered to produce its witnesses for the trial of the defendant to commence immediately.”

Justice Umar adjourned the case ‎till April 6.

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