Lawyers urge Justice Danladi Umar to dismiss case against Saraki
– The case against Senate president, Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), is still generating interest in the polity
– A group of lawyers under the name, Lawyers in Defence of Democracy have added their voice to the debate
– The CCT is set to decide on Saraki’s motion challenging his arraignment
A group of lawyers under the name, Lawyers in Defence of Democracy have urged Justice Danladi Umar of the CCT to dismiss the trial case of Saraki.
Senate president, Bukola Saraki during one of his appearances at the CCT
In a statement by the group distributed to the media and obtained by NAIJ.com, the lawyers described the trial as a nullity, citing the earlier judgment in the case of former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2011.
The lawyers queried why Saraki is being arraigned before the same Justice Umar without the condition precedent being met and the same Judge has gone ahead to commence to commence Saraki’s trial.
The statement read: ”It is pertinent to state that the same tribunal Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and 1999 Constitution that were operational in Tinubu’s case are still in operation in Saraki’s case.
”Therefore, we urge Justice Umar to be courageous and take the honourable path of justice by reaffirming his previous judgement in Tinubu’s case by striking out the charged against Saraki for lack of jurisdiction.”
Just yesterday, March 22, Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, withdrew from a fundamental rights suit filed by Saraki to crush the charges of false declaration of assets brought against him by the federal government at the CCT.
Kafarati explained that his integrity had been called into question in the matter, hence his decision to disqualify himself from it.
He stated that if he ruled against or for Saraki, his decision would be interpreted differently.
Meanwhile, indications emerged today, March 23, that senators who opposed the election of Saraki as the Senate president will soon ‘sheathe their swords’ and drum support for the ex-Kwara state governor at the CCT tomorrow, March 24.
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