The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that he refused to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Friday because of an order issued by a Federal High Court on Thursday, directing that the case against him be halted.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki accused the tribunal of pursuing a political agenda, and said he was certain the court would give him justice.
The statement said that while Saraki had stated and maintains that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.
It said that it is for this reason that Saraki, having satisfied himself that the case filed by the CCB and the manner in which the case was filed show that he will not be given justice, resorted to the Federal High Court for the determination of the issues of competence of the prosecutor as well as compliance with the procedure stipulated in the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
The statement stressed that the Federal High Court had ordered that the all parties in the case should appear before it on Monday, September 21, 2015, stating that the “implication of the ruling by a Court of competent jurisdiction is that the sitting today has been overtaken by event. It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki chose to go about with his normal official schedule.”
“Today at the Tribunal, Counsel to the Senate President, M. A. Mahmud (SAN), raised a motion stating that there is a pending constitutional matter before the Federal High Court to be decided on Monday and that the Tribunal should hold the trial until the constitutional matter is disposed of.
“We are however dismayed that the Tribunal chose to disregard the order of the Federal High Court and the motion to suspend hearing till Monday when all parties are expected to argue their positions on the constitutional matter.
“It is also a surprise to us that despite the application by the lead counsel to the Senate President that he will produce Dr. Saraki on Monday and the personality of the person involved as the Number three man in the country, the Tribunal insisted on issuing a warrant of arrest as if its intention is simply to embarrass Dr. Saraki.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that the Tribunal is acting under political influence and external pressure. This is dangerous to our democracy.
Sarai said that the conduct of the Tribunal left nobody in doubt that it cannot do justice on the matter before it. “It is also clear that today’s decision is an abuse of the rule of law which portends danger to our judicial system. The Tribunal has equally set a bad precedent in the way and manner it conducted itself during the proceedings.
It emphasised that the the issue is not part of any war against corruption but using state institutions to fight political opponents and seeking to achieve through the back door what some people cannot get through democratic process.
“We need to caution here that in a desperate bid to settle political scores and nail imaginary enemies, we should not destroy our democratic institutions and heat the polity for selfish reasons. Let us all learn from history.
“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from the Tribunal today was based on the legal advice he received from his counsel that the Tribunal will respect the decision of the Federal High Court which is obviously a superior court of records.
“Also, he relied on a letter from the Chief Justice of Nigeria directed to the Chairman of the Tribunal last May that they are not judicial officers and are inferior to the regularsanni High Court as defined by the law and that they take official oath not judicial oath.
“We will like to state therefore that Dr. Saraki will not do anything to undermine the judicial process and authority but he will always act to protect his fundamental human rights.
The chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, had issued a bench warrant against Saraki for not appearing to face a 13-count charge of corruption.
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