Saraki: Senate President finally agrees to appear at tribunal

The tribunal had twice ordered Saraki’s arrest after he failed to show up for his trials. The Senate President has been accused of 13 counts of fraud by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said that he will be appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow, September 22, 2015.

 

The tribunal had twice ordered Saraki’s arrest after he failed to show up for his trials.

 

The Senate President has been accused of 13 counts of fraud by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

 

Saraki made his position clear via a post on his Facebook page today, September 21.

It reads in part:

“The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow Tuesday 22nd of September 2015.”

“While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that 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.”

“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.”

“Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.”

“Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter.”

The CCB has accused Saraki of anticipatory declaration of assets and failure to declare assets acquired while he was the governor of Kwara State among others offences.