CCT Chair Dismisses Application Seeking His Disqualification
Code of Conduct Tribunal Sitting in Abuja[/caption]
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, on Thursday, dismissed the application of Senate President Bukola Saraki, seeking his disqualification from further trial of the case.
Saraki is facing a 13 count charge of corruption and alleged false declaration of asset while he was governor of Kwara state between 2003 and 2007, preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Counsel to the Saraki, Ajibola Oluyede had on Wednesday, filed an application requesting that the tribunal chairman, disqualify himself from presiding over the trial.
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He argued that the Umar still has a serious corruption case against him with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), citing an investigation report by the EFCC dated 24th June 2014, where the CCT boss and his erstwhile Personal Assistant, Gambo Abdullahi, were listed as suspects.
READ ALSO: Saraki’s Trial: 19 Political Parties Ask CCT Chairman To Step Down
But at the resumed hearing of the case today, Umar dismissed the application holding that the case had no merit.
“The tribunal holds that the application lacks absolute merit and is hereby dismissed in its entirety,” he ruled.
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Umar said that the Attorney-General of the Federation has no powers to investigate any person.
He said it is only the security and law enforcement agencies that have that power and it is only when they have concluded their investigation that the Attorney-General can prosecute.
He further said that the EFCC is not answerable to the Attorney-General in the cause of performing its constitutional duty.
