BREAKING: Court dismisses Saraki’s application, says embattled Senate President must face corruption trial
Abdul Kafarati, a justice of the
federal high court, Abuja, has asked
Senate President Bukola Saraki to
face his trial at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT).
The judge dismissed Saraki’s
fundamental rights suit to quash the
charges against him at the CCT for
lacking in merit.
“It appears to me all that the applicant
is trying to do is to stop his criminal
trial at CCT. The CCT is a competent
court to try the criminal matters,” he
held.
“This court cannot interfere with the
case at the tribunal which has power to
try cases.
“It is not appropriate for the applicant
to approach this court. This case is
hereby dismissed.”
On March 22, Kafarati had withdrawn
from the suit filed by Saraki to quash
the charges of false declaration of
assets brought against him CCT.
Kafarati had explained that his integrity
had been called into question in the
matter.
He had read a report of online medium
accusing him of corruption.
He, therefore, said that if he ruled
against or for Saraki, his decision
would be interpreted differently.
“It is only in this country that people
can wake up and start calling people
names,” he had said.
“In the circumstance, I disqualify
myself from this case. I will hereby
send the case file to the chief judge for
re-assignment to another judge.”
But Ibrahim Auta, chief judge of the
federal high court, prevailed on
Kafarati to rule on the matter.
In February, after the judgment of the
supreme court dismissing Saraki’s
appeal to stop his trial, Ajibola
Oloyede, his lawyer, filed the lawsuit
asking the federal high court to stop his
trial, and disqualify the chairman of the
CCT.
The senate president couched his
prayers in the violation of his rights to
fair hearing by the Code of Conduct
Bureau (CCB), which he said did not
invite him for explanation before it
filed charges against him at the CCT.
He also claimed that his trial was
politically motivated, but the court held
that he should face his trial.
federal high court, Abuja, has asked
Senate President Bukola Saraki to
face his trial at the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT).
The judge dismissed Saraki’s
fundamental rights suit to quash the
charges against him at the CCT for
lacking in merit.
“It appears to me all that the applicant
is trying to do is to stop his criminal
trial at CCT. The CCT is a competent
court to try the criminal matters,” he
held.
“This court cannot interfere with the
case at the tribunal which has power to
try cases.
“It is not appropriate for the applicant
to approach this court. This case is
hereby dismissed.”
On March 22, Kafarati had withdrawn
from the suit filed by Saraki to quash
the charges of false declaration of
assets brought against him CCT.
Kafarati had explained that his integrity
had been called into question in the
matter.
He had read a report of online medium
accusing him of corruption.
He, therefore, said that if he ruled
against or for Saraki, his decision
would be interpreted differently.
“It is only in this country that people
can wake up and start calling people
names,” he had said.
“In the circumstance, I disqualify
myself from this case. I will hereby
send the case file to the chief judge for
re-assignment to another judge.”
But Ibrahim Auta, chief judge of the
federal high court, prevailed on
Kafarati to rule on the matter.
In February, after the judgment of the
supreme court dismissing Saraki’s
appeal to stop his trial, Ajibola
Oloyede, his lawyer, filed the lawsuit
asking the federal high court to stop his
trial, and disqualify the chairman of the
CCT.
The senate president couched his
prayers in the violation of his rights to
fair hearing by the Code of Conduct
Bureau (CCB), which he said did not
invite him for explanation before it
filed charges against him at the CCT.
He also claimed that his trial was
politically motivated, but the court held
that he should face his trial.
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