Senators Rally Support For Saraki As Trial Begins At Tribunal

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, got an overwhelming support from his colleagues in the Senate when he entered the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal today and pleaded “not guilty” to the 13 charges bordering on false assets declaration brought against him before the tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The tribunal however discharged the bench warrant against him and granted him bail on self-recognizance after establishing that he came to the tribunal on his own.

Saraki arrived the tribunal premises at 9:32 a.m local time, accompanied by about 50 senators and some members of the House of Representatives. Some of the senators in court include Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu Theodore Orji, Sam Egwu, Shaba Lafiaji, Aliyu Wamakko, Rafiu Ibrahim, Tayo Alasoadura, Isa Hamma Misau, Samuel Anyanwu, Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, Mao Ohuabunwa, Ben Murray-Bruce, Gilbert Nnaji, Kabiru Gaya, Foster Ogola, Sunny Ogborji, Emmanuel Paulker, Obinna Ogba, Kaura Tijani, Clifford Ordia, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Peter Nwaoboshi, Rose Okoh, Mohammed Ohiare, Gershom Bassey, and Olaka Nwogu, among others.

Though Saraki initially refused to enter inside the accused box to take his plea until the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar gave a ruling compelling him to take his position in the dock and he did at about 11: 24 am.

While in the dock, the Senate President before taking his plea said he was being prosecuted because of his position as a Senate President. In addition, he protested over what he said was not the appropriate steps the tribunal had taken against him before his arraignment.

According to him, the proper thing was for the Code of Conduct Bureau [CCB] to have invited him to clarify whatever irregularity it discovered in the assets he declared as provided in section 3 before filing charges against him.

Speaking from the dock, Saraki said: “I am a firm believer of the rule of law. I have come here to subject myself before this tribunal. I strongly believe that I am here because I am the Senate President.

“I felt that the CCB should have called me. We have been hearing about new Nigeria but this is the first time this kind of thing is being done without following the due process. Nigerians are watching and the world is also watching. I will confirm myself to the due process. So as I stated, I want to say that I am not guilty”

After his plea, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, thereafter briefed the tribunal how the accused person while in office as the executive governor of Kwara State filled four different assets declaration forms with the first one in 2003, the second in 2007, third also in 2007 while the fourth was filled in 2011 when he left office as a governor.

Jacobs among others alleged that the Senate President made anticipatory assets declaration while in some cases he failed to declare others acquired while he was the governor.

He also alleged that the Senator operated two foreign accounts in the United Kingdom also while in the office as governor and made some huge deposit in foreign currencies into the accounts with the aid of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB). The alleged offences were said to be contrary to section 15 of the CCB and CCT Act 2004.

The prosecuting counsel also announced his intention to tender the four assets declaration forms as exhibits and that he will also call five witnesses to give evidence against the Senator.

After the presentation of facts of the case by the prosecution to the tribunal, its Chairman ordered that the bench warrant of arrest earlier issued against the Senate President for Police to arrest him has been vacated and that the accused should go home.

Justice Umar also announced that the tribunal will hear all the motions already filed by the accused to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal before going into the main issue.

“It is not the intention of this tribunal to shut out the accused person in the numerous applications he has filed. It is in the interest of justice that we will hear and all the motions in one way or the other before going into the main case”. Justice Umar said. Further proceedings were therefore adjourned to October 21, 22 and 23.

In a show of solidarity with their leader, Senators of the 8^th Senate in a statement entitled “Senate is Solidly Behind Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki” and signed by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba on behalf of others expressed their total support for Saraki.

The statement reads: “After majority of us, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, witnessed the appearance of our President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal this morning, we are happy that he appeared at the Tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his Fundamental Human Rights.

“We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership. We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate President and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.

“By his appearance at the Tribunal, he has demonstrated his firm belief in the rule of law and his respect for our judicial process. We join Dr. Saraki in affirming our commitment to rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.

“We only hope the other arms of government will ensure that due processes and procedures are followed in this trial and on all other issues. The Eighth Senate restates its commitment to the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration. It is our belief that at the end of this trial, our democracy, Nigerians and the people will end up as the beneficiaries. May God bless our country, Nigeria.”