Saraki fails to stop trial

Senate President Bukola Saraki failed yesterday to stop his arraignment today before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja refused his prayer for an ex-parte order restraining the CCT, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) from proceeding with his planned arraignment on a 13-count charge brought against him by the Office of the AGF.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who heard Saraki’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), in relation to the ex-parte motion in chambers, directed that the respondents be put on notice.

The judge directed the respondents to appear before the court on Monday to show cause why Saraki’s prayers, as contained in his ex-parte motion, should not be granted.

The Judge ordered that the respondents be served with all the court processes, including the motion of notice for interim order or injunction, motion ex-parte and a hearing notice.

The office of the AGF had filed the charge dated September 11 against Saraki before the CCT, accusing him of committing, among others,  offences ranging from anticipatory declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in forms he filed before the Code of Conduct Bureau while he was governor of Kwara State.

Saraki is accused of failing to declare some assets he acquired while in office as governor; acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings and operating foreign accounts while being a public officer – governor and senator.

The Senate President is, in the charge endorsed by a Deputy Director at the FMJ, Muslim Hassan, said to have, by the offences, breached Section 2 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

The CCT, on Wednesday, fixed today for Saraki’s arraignment. But, in an effort to prevent the CCT from proceeding with its business, Saraki raced to the Federal High Court, Abuja with the ex-parte application.

Source - The nation