Saraki Speaks In Defense Of CCT Chair, Questions Buhari’s ‘Anti-Graft War’

Senate President Bukola Saraki will on Tuesday appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for continuation of his trial on three out of the 18 counts earlier dismissed by the tribunal.

The CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, had in June 2017 dismissed all 18 count charges against Saraki of false assets declaration and other related charges, for what he described as lack of evidence.

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However, the Federal Government, had, through its prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), appealed against the CCT ruling.

Ruling on the Federal government’s appeal, Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson held that the Prosecution was able to establish a prima facie case against the Senate President on counts 4, 5 and 6 bothering on the purchase of house 17 A and B at Mc Donald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Judge said that there were false claims by Saraki in the declaration forms stating how the two houses in Ikoyi were acquired.

Meanwhile, hours before continuation of trial, Saraki in a statement, questioned the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption.

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The Senate President was reacting to charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the CCT chairman, Danladi Umar.
The anti-graft agency on Feb 2, through its prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, charged Umar on two counts of fraud for taking N10 million bribe from a former Customs official named Rasheed Taiwo.

Saraki said his counsel had in April 2016 asked the CCT chairman to recuse himself from his case, following corruption charges against him, but the EFCC defended Umar, clearing him of any wrongdoing.

The Senate President expressed amazement that the same EFCC is now prosecuting Umar for the same offence he was acquitted.

Saraki said: “I sympathize with the Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, for his travail in the hands of the EFCC which suddenly woke up 4 days to the resumption of this case to file criminal charges against him.

“You will recall that in April 2016, when our lawyers asked the tribunal chairman to recuse himself from our case, because of the criminal investigation against him, the EFCC swiftly cleared Mr. Umar of any wrongdoing.

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“Now, I find it amusing, that in a dramatic turnaround, this same EFCC now thinks that Mr. Umar has a case to answer just before the commencement of my case before him. What has changed since April 2016?

“As much as many Nigerians want to continue to believe that this my case is merely about asset declaration irregularities, the maneuvers, manipulation, intrigues, schemes, and “House of Cards” nature of this whole case proves otherwise.

“I really wonder whether those who genuinely love this Government appreciate the damage that all this is doing to our so-called ‘War Against Corruption.’ However, in all of this, my confidence in the judiciary and its ability to do justice in all cases, remains unshaken.”

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