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Tag: CCT Trial

  • CCT Trial: Onnoghen maintains innocence as FG demands conviction

    The Federal Government is seeking a jail sentence for the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen in his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal( CCT).

    But Onnoghen who is accused of failing to declare his assets immediately after assuming office is pleading with the tribunal to set him free.

    The charges against him, he says, are “inherently defective” and unconstitutional.

    The positions of the two parties are contained in the final addresses of their counsel submitted to the tribunal.

    The lawyers are due to defend their final addresses tomorrow when the CCT resumes sitting on the case.

    The Federal Government had on January 11, 2019 filed an application to commence the trial of the CJN at the tribunal.

    While the trial was ongoing, the National Judicial Council (NJC) advised President Muhammadu Buhari to retire Onnoghen.

    Although the President is yet to make his position on the NJC’s report known, the CJN on his part resigned from office to “save the Judiciary.”

    A 14-man prosecution team, led by Aliyu Umar (SAN) in a final written address of April 11, 2019, asked the tribunal to convict Onnoghen.

    Read also: The fall of Onnoghen

    The prosecution said: “We humbly submit to your noble lords that the essential ingredients of the offence are:

    1. The Defendant is a public officer as stipulated in paragraph 5 of Part 2 of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).
    2. That the Defendant in such capacity failed to declare his assets immediately after taking office for Count One of the charge against the Defendant the above the only ingredients of the offence under Section 15 and 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap 15 LFN 2004.

    “We humbly submit that the Evidence of PW.1 and PW.2 and also exhibits 2, 3, 5 and 6 conclusively proved that Defendant took oath of office as Justice of the Supreme Court in the year 2005 and as such was under an obligation to declare his assets as provided by the Constitution and Code of Conduct Bureau Act.

    “It is our further submission that by exhibit 2, the Defendant declared his asset for the position of Justice of the Supreme Court on 14th December, 2016. The Defendant took oath of office as a justice of the Supreme Court on 8th day of June, 2005. This is also borne out from the testimony of PW.1, PW.2, Exhibit 2 and 6.

    “We submit from the above that the Prosecution counsel have proved the essential elements of Count 1 of the Charge being:

    1. That the Defendant is a Justice of the Supreme Court bound by virtue of that appointment to abide by the provisions of section 15 of the Code of Conduct Act to declare his assets at least three months after his appointment to that office as stipulated in paragraph 5 of Part 2 of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended)
    2. That the Defendant was sworn in as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 8th day of June 2005
    3. That the Defendant did not declare his appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court at the time until when he submitted Exhibit 2 of 14th December, 2016
    4. That the Defendant did not declare his assets as a Justice of the Supreme Court at the time unlit when he submitted Exhibit 2 on 14th December, 2016. The failure to submit Assets Declaration months after the appointment of the Defendant to the Supreme Court is a contravention of Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Act Cap C15 LFN 2004
    5. A contravention of the provisions of Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 LFN 2004 is punishable under Section 23 (2) a, b, and c of the same Act.

    “We therefore submit that the Prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the circumstance of this case in respect of Count One.

    Continue in page 2

  • CCT trial: At last, suspended CJN Onnoghen docked

    It was an unusual proceeding yesterday before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja as the most senior judge in the country was put on trial, with the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, pleading to a six-count charge.

    This is the first time in the history of the nation’s judiciary, when the must senior jurist would be subjected to a court trial. Onnoghen is charged with the breach of code of conduct in relation to his alleged failure to declare some assets linked with him, as required for public officers.

    Smartly dressed in suit and tie, 69-year-old Onnghen stood in the dock for the entire one-hour long proceedings, during which the charge was read to him, to which he pleaded not guilty, following which tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, admitted him to bail on self-recognisance.

    The tribunal had, at its previous sitting on February 13, issued a bench warrant against Onnoghen, directing either the Inspector General of Police (IGP) or the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) to arrest him and produce him on February 15.

    As against the tone of the tribunal’s order, the suspended CJN attended Friday’s proceedings on his own. He arrived the CCT’s sitting venue at Jabi, Abuja, around 9.40am, driven in his official vehicle, with his security aides in tow.

    On alighting from the car, he was immediately led to the packed spacious hall, where he sat on the front pew, to the left side of the hall, close to the main entrance, with some senior lawyers sitting to his right and left.

    No known Justice of either the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal was present. Normal court businesses went on smoothly at the Supreme Court. A panel of four Justices, led by Justice John Okoro sat on cases and delivered judgments in about 13 cases, when The Nation visited.  Other Justices on the panel were Centus Nweze, Paul Galinje and Amina Adamu Augie.

    Many senior lawyers, who had appeared before the CCT as part of the defence team, like former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Victoria Awomolo (SAN), were absent yesterday.

    The size of the defence team was also smaller yesterday, with the number of Senior Advocates, whose names were announced, not up to 10. The size of the audience was also smaller than the attendance recorded before yesterday.

    Proceedings commenced around 10.35am when members of the tribunal took their seats, following which the tribunal Chairman directed an official to call the case.

    When the charge marked CCT/ABJ/01/2019 was called, Onnoghen stood up from his seat. His lawyer made move to address the court, but was interjected by tribunal Chairman.

    Pointing towards the dock, Umar insisted that the defendant must step into the wooden cubicle before further businesses could be conducted, a directive Onnoghen promptly complied with and walked briskly into the dock.

    While in the dock, the defendant chose to stand, he rejected the chair offered by a security official of the tribunal, on the instruction of the Chairman.

    On realising that the defendant was standing, Umar said: “Please give him a chair to sit (pointing to a policeman attached to the tribunal). Let him sit down. My Lord, please sit down.”

    In response, Onnoghen, standing, with his hands held behind him, said: “Thank you sir. I don’t need it (the chair) now. When I need it, I will ask for it,” he smiled as he spoke. The defendant did not request for the chair while the proceedings lasted.

    Upon a request by the lead prosecuting lawyer, Musa Ibrahim, the six-count charge was read to the defendant, with him pleading not guilty to all the counts.

    After his plea, lead defence lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), applied for bail on self-recognisance, for the defendant. Uche also prayed the tribunal to vacate the arrest warrant issued against his client, which he said was no longer necessary because the defendant voluntarily attended the tribunal’s sitting.

    The prosecuting lawyer did not object to any of the applications, following which Umar granted them, but emphasised that he was granting them on the condition that the defendant would always attend subsequent proceedings.

    Uche subsequently prayed the tribunal for an adjournment. He noted that election was a day away, and that he needed to travel to his constituency, where he planned to cast his vote.

    Though counsel for the prosecution and defence agreed to have the case adjourned until March 18, this year, it took a lot of pleadings, by both lawyers, for the tribunal Chairman, who had chosen February 21 as the return date, to reluctantly agree to March 11 this year for the hearing of all pending applications.

  • CCT trial: Fed Govt freezes Onnoghen’s five accounts

    Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen’s five accounts have been frozen.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami,  has requested the Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to freeze the accounts.

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), in the charge it filed against the CJN before the Code of Conduct tribunal (CCT) for which he was to be arraigned on January 14, accused Justice Onnoghen of failing to declare the accounts.

    In a letter, written on the official letterhead of the AGF, but signed by Abiodun Aikomo, dated January 14, 2019, and received same date at the office of the Director of NFIU, the AGF directed that the accounts be frozen pending the conclusion of the charge before the CCT.

    The letter has as its heading: “Re: Request for freezing of bank accounts subject to investigation and prosecution pursuant to Presidential Executive Order No: 6 of 5th July 2018 on the Preservation of Assets Connected with Corruption.”

    It reads: “I am directed by Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to request that you, pursuant to Executive Order 6 of 2018, forthwith restrict normal banking operations on certain accounts belonging to Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen pending final determination of the case against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT/ABJ/1/19 – Federal Republic of Nigeria v Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel.

    “These accounts are: Account number 5001062683 (euro) Standard Chartered Bank; 5001062683 (pounds); 0001062650 (dollar); 0010626667 (naira), and 5001062683 (naira).”

    The row over the rescheduled arraignment of the CJN continued yesterday, with the chairman of the Presidential Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay and a multilateral diplomat, Dr. Babafemi Badejo, giving reasons the CJN matter should not be referred to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Prof. Sagay argued that Justice Onnoghen’s false asset declaration could not be first determined by the NJC, adding that those making such a suggestion got it wrong.

    Read also: Sagay: Why NJC can’t consider Onnoghen’s case

    Dr. Badejo said the NJC ought to have stepped aside to clear his name due to the nature of the office he occupied.

    He disagreed with those accusing the Presidency of attempting to install a Northerner as CJN who will be sympathetic to the ruling party.

    Badejo, former Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, faulted Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) who stormed the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where Onnoghen was to be arraigned for alleged non-declaration of assets on Monday.

    To him, Nigerians must dispassionately examine the facts in the petition from the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative on whether there is a prima facie case against the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) rather than be swayed by legalistic reactions from many “so called Silk Wigs”.

    Badejo said: “It should not matter that a Northerner could succeed Walter Onnoghen as CJN. The question at the Supreme Court is: Who is next? The Supreme Court should be viewed outside the nepotism associated with the current government.

    “Furthermore, will a CJN foist his views on the entire Supreme Court? This sort of reasoning suggests that there is no faith in the judicial system.

    “We can and should condemn the theatrics of the so called Silk Wigs in spite of the fact that they have the right to defend a rightly accused CJN before the CCB/CCT.

    “Do we need more than one SAN to take on the Federal Government of Nigeria? So many SANs is a sign of weakness and not strength in numbers. All these exaggerations do not allow our country to be taken serious.”

    On why he believes Chief Justice Onnoghen should step aside, Dr Badejo said: “The CJN is not an ordinary Nigerian. He is at the top of our Judiciary and once he faces a prima facie case of having committed a crime, the honourable answer is to step aside from trying to sit on top of any case in Nigeria.

    “He should then defend his name or run away. If he is clean and freed, he should be financially compensated by way of a civil suit. The CJN as a post is very different from the Shenanigans of the politicians in our legislature and executive.

    “If the over 100 Silk Wigs love the CJN and respect his office, they should persuade him to resign and run away like Ms. Kemi Adeosun who definitely has a crime that is ripe for trial hanging over her head.”

    Badejo, who consults for the African Union (AU), said it should not be possible for any CJN to just be removed from office without due process, adding that the President or anyone for that matter must comply with extant law.

    “A Judge that is cut with money laundering or stealing, murder etc, is subject to our laws on those crimes. It stands to reason that Judges are not above the law. The National Judicial Council (NJC) is to handle the protection that Judges deserve in the course of their duties.

    “Many issues are yet to be handled with respect to Nigeria’s irreparably dishonoured CJN. For instance, if true that he has so many houses that were not declared as expected, has he been earning rental incomes on them? If he has, has he been paying taxes on such rental incomes or it has been amnesia all the way?

    “The CJN depositing $10,000 five times in one day, etc., raises questions as to whether this unusual behavior is intent and act of avoidance of the money laundering law and regulations? What about Order No. 6 and the CJN’s assets that are now in the public space?

    “The argument of politicisation to the effect that a petition was made and was speedily attended to should not lead to suggestions of politically induced timing. If a CJN were to drop dead 30 days before an election, would we as a nation not go ahead with our elections?

    “Those making such arguments are either saying that the Head of the Judiciary is the Judiciary and all cannot function if he is not in office. These weak arguments are anti-institution building, hence against the democratisation of Nigeria,” said the former University of Lagos (UNILAG) don.

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) claimed it has uncovered an alleged plot by the Federal Government to “harm” the CJN.

    Citing the AGF memo of the AGF to the NFIU, directing the freezing or Justice Onnoghen’s five accounts, CUPP spokesman Imo Ugochinyere alleged that the Federal Government was angry because the CJN “refused to compromise the composition of the post-2019 election Supreme Court Appeal Tribunal.”

  • CCT trial: Saraki closes case after calling witness

    CCT trial: Saraki closes case after calling witness

    THE trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki resumed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday with his lawyers calling a witness.

    He equally closed his case after the witness, Dr. Ademola Adebo,  concluded his evidence.

    The witness, an ex-commissioner with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), told the court that he was familiar with assets’ declaration process.

    He said at a time, he was engaged by CCB to simplify the CCB Assets Declaration Form and also created a portal so that public officers will not have to visit CCB to declare asset.

    The witness identified some asset declaration forms filed by Saraki at the commencement and conclusion of his tenure as Kwara State Governor in 2007 and 2011, when he became a senator.

    The witness, led in evidence by Paul Usoro (SAN), read from the forms where Saraki declared that he acquired Nos: 17A and 17B Macdonald, Ikoyi through sale of rice and sugar commodities.

    In another form, the witness read where Saraki also said he bought the same houses through bank loan from GTB.

    At the conclusion of his evidence-in-chief, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), was about to begin cross-examining the witness when the tribunal’s chairman, Danladi Umar, announced a brief suspension of proceedings. He said the trial will resume in 30 minutes.

    When proceedings resumed later, Adebo, under cross-examination, said he was a lecturer in the Ondo State University before his appointment as a member of the CCB in 2010.

    He said he had lectured in two universities in the United States (U.S.) as Assistant Professor of Political Science before returning to Nigeria.

    When asked to confirm if he was still a member of the CCB, the witness said the issue, relating to the dissolution of the board to which he belonged, was a subject of litigation in court.

    When given copies of the asset declaration forms completed by Saraki and was asked to identify his signature or name, the witness said he did not sign any of Saraki’s forms.

    The witness said he could not recall any other ex-governor that was charged before the tribunal beside a former Lagos State governor.

    When asked if the CCB was only interested in prosecuting cases involving the poor public officers, Adebo said the CCB was not expected to always prosecute public servants but to also protect them.

    He blamed the CCB’s inability to function effectively on the lack of structure, a development, he said, informed why there was effort, while he was a member, to restructure it for efficiency.

    When Jacobs indicated that he was through with the witness, Usoro’s attempted to ask the witness further questions.

    The CCT Chairman rejected the attempt, upon an objection by Jacobs on the grounds that the questions do not relate to issue that emanated during cross-examination.

    At that point, the CCT Chairman asked parties to agree on the next date. But, while Usoro, Jacobs and the tribunal’s Registrar were trying to agree on a date, Saraki, who sat in the dock, signalled to the leader of his legal team, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who promptly approached him.

    Saraki conferred briefly with Kanu, shortly after which the lawyer informed the tribunal that the defence has made up its mind to close its case.

    The announcement came as a surprise to all, because the defence had, at the commencement of proceedings, indicated its intention to call four witnesses. Agabi was, however, silent on why the defence changed its mind.

    The CCT Chairman later adjourned to February 27 for the adoption of parties’ final written address.

  • Lawyers reject senators’ call to stop Saraki’s CCT trial

    Lawyers reject senators’ call to stop Saraki’s CCT trial

    Lawyers yesterday rejected a call by some senators for the Federal Government to withdraw the charge against Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The senators, who are Saraki’s supporters, reportedly made the demand at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting with the leadership of the ruling party.

    The senators were said to have described Saraki’s trial as “political” and that withdrawing the charge for alleged false assets declaration would help thaw the frosty relationship between the executive and the legislature.

    Some lawyers kicked against the call and warned of its consequences.

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Charles Uwesuyi-Edosomwan, said it would be wrong to withdraw the charge for political convenience.

    According to him, institutions should be allowed to do their jobs without any form of interference.

    He said: “We can’t do that. We need to strengthen the institutions. We cannot trade forgiveness of alleged crimes for political sagacity or convenience.

    “We can’t begin, in our constitutional development, to start encouraging a culture of trading political favours for crimes i.e, whenever we have political logjam, we just forgive criminality.

    “Institutions must be strengthened on their own; on the pedestals of legality, constitutionalism and morality.

    “On the basis of law, it is illegal to say because there is a political impasse, you want to forgive crimes that should be tried; you cannot also, because of convenience, raise a particular individual over an institution, like they’re trying to do with (Ibrahim) Magu.

    “So, let the Senate do its job; and let the other institutions and structures also do their jobs.”

    The founder/President of a human rights group, the Crusade for Justice, Mr. Richard Nwankwo, said Saraki’s trial should run its full course.

    He said withdrawing the charge for political reasons would mean that some persons are above the law.

    Nwankwo said: “That will mean giving a different meaning to the definition of justice. If we are all equal before the law, we want to see the equality from a practical point of view.

    “If they (executive) are convinced that they have something concrete against Saraki, I think there is no moral justification for abandoning such a campaign. The beauty of justice is that nobody lives above it.

    “Once you start dispensing justice in a manner that makes it discriminatory, it no longer falls within the confines of the definition of justice.”

    The activist said that withdrawing the charge against Saraki as a means of political settlement would amount to “a bastardisation of constitutional democracy on a larger platform”.

    He, however, urged the government to adopt a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption rather than being selective.

    Another SAN, Chief Gani Adetola-Kaseem, described it as a political decision with yet unforeseen implications.

    He said: “That would be a political decision and any political decision certainly has its implications. It depends on how you look at it.”

    Adetola-Kaseem noted that some party members could be considering that if Saraki’s CCT trial is allowed to run its course, “there will be a lot of issues”, because “he is a state official or party man”.

    “The implication of this,” the senior advocate warned, “is that others could want their prosecutions discontinued as well.

    “People could look at it and say, well, we might as well withdraw cases against others. So, there are a lot of implications, but I don’t want to speculate. Let’s see how it plays out.

    “It would be a political decision, but whether that decision would be correct or not is another matter and whether the merit will far outweigh the demerit is another matter.”

    But, another SAN, Mallam Yusuf Ali, pitched his tent with anything that will help rebuild the frayed relationship between the executive and the legislature.

    “I will support anything that will promote amity between the legislature and the executive so that they will have time to attend to issues affecting we the ordinary people,” Ali said.

  • Lawyer’s ill-health stalls hearing in Saraki’s appeal

    Lawyer’s ill-health stalls hearing in Saraki’s appeal

    The hearing of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki’s appeal at the Federal Court of Appeal, Abuja on Thursday, against the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been stalled again.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inability of the court to sit on the matter stemmed from a reported ill health of the applicant’s (Saraki) counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

    The Senate President is being tried at the tribunal for alleged false and anticipatory declaration of his asset while serving as governor of Kwara.

    The Federal Government had also alleged that the applicant violated the country’s Money Laundering law.

    However, Saraki, who denied any wrong doing, is challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him.

    Agabi had transmitted a letter to the presiding Judge, Justice Abdul Aboki, seeking an adjournment on account of his ill-health.

    NAN further reports that the application was not opposed by the respondent’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN).

    “In view of the letter sent to this panel from the applicant’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, seeking adjournment on account of ill health and since this prayer is not opposed, the court will grant it.
    “The hearing of the appeal is hereby adjourned until July 18,’’ Aboki said.

    NAN recalls that hearing of the appeal was stalled on May 31, as the panel could not form the mandatory quorum to hear the matter.

    Justice Moore Adumien, leading two other justices, fixed the matter to June 2.

     

  • CCT: Saraki loses bid to stop trial

    CCT: Saraki loses bid to stop trial

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Thursday dismissed the application filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking nullification of his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

    In his ruling, the trial Judge, Abdul Kafarati, held that the CCT is a constitutional body, in the discharge of its legal obligation which should not be interfered with by a court of law.

     

     

  • CCT trial: Justice Auta accedes to Saraki’s request

    CCT trial: Justice Auta accedes to Saraki’s request

    The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta has acceded to the request by Senate President, Bukola Saraki to direct one of the judges serving under him, Justice Abdul Kafarati to deliver judgment in his (Saraki’s) case.

    Saraki, who is standing trial for alleged false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had sued the Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar and others involved in his trial, before the Federal High Court.

    Saraki is, in the suit filed for him by his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, contending that his trial before the CCT, as currently constituted was a violation of his right and that there was no way he could get justice.

    It is also Saraki’s contention that, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was currently investigating Umar for alleged bribery and at the same time prosecuting him (Saraki) before the tribunal he (Umar) heads, it was impossible for the CCT Chairman to do justice and act independently in his (Saraki’s) case.

    Having taken arguments from parties in the case, Justice Kafarati had scheduled judgment for March 22, but when parties arrived court, he changed his mind at the last minutes and informed parties that he was withdrawing from the case and returning the case file to Justice Auta for reassignment to another judge.

    Justice Kafarati hinged his decision on publications by some on-line media, which he (the judge) said had cast him in bad light and portrayed him as a compromised judge.

    He said no matter in whose favour his judgment went, the losing party will habour the impression that he was influenced.

    On March 23, Oluyede wrote Justice Auta, demanding that he prevailed on Justice Kafarati to deliver his withheld judgment, no matter who benefits.

    Oluyede said: “It is our argument in the suit that the Code of Conduct Tribunal cannot act independently the way it is currently constituted because we believe It’s Chairman, Danladi Umar, who is currently under investigation by the EFCC, cannot be independent in deciding a case being prosecuted before him by the EFCC.

    “We have also contended that the EFCC, by admitting that the investigation of the case against our client was done by a special task force, as against the requirement by the provision in Schedule 3 of the Constitution, has usurped the exclusive duties of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). It is on that basis we argued that our client cannot get justice under the current arrangement and asked the court to quash the charge,” Oluyede said.

    Part of the letter he wrote to Justice Auta reads: “Although one cannot but sympathise with the hard-working judges, who are victims of these vicious attacks, nevertheless, we find ourselves in disagreement with his (Justice Kafarati) that the interest of justice would be served by his withholding of his judgment and returning the matter to your Lordship for reassignment.

    “In our view, the abdication by Justice Kafarati not only fails to meet the end of justice, it also gives momentum to the growth of blackmail tactics and dishonourable conduct targeted at obstructing the administration of justice.

    “It would therefore set a bad precedent if your Lordship accedes to Justice Kafarati’s request to allow him to withhold his prepared judgment in this action because of fear of ephemera public opinion.

    “We write to seek your lordship’s most urgent intervention to prevail on honourable Justice Kafarati to have his judgment read, so that the very essence of such an important application under the fundamental rights (enforcement procedure) Rules 2009 may not be completely lost and the entire judicial process brought to avoidable ridicule.

    “It is immaterial in whose favour the judgment goes so long as we can, through this resistance, defeat the on-line media terrorism being unleashed against the judicial system.

    “If this precedent is set, there will be no end to this, as it would mean that all a litigant that wishes to frustrate the administration of justice for any reason, need to is to sponsor spurious allegations against the judge and that will terminate the proceedings and frustrate the timely delivery of justice,” it said.

    It was however learnt yesterday that Justice Auta has acceded to Saraki’s request and directed Justice Kafarati to proceed and deliver his judgement.

    The Nation learnt that Justice Auta’s decision was hinged on the fact that none of the parties in the suit complained about the conduct of Justice Kafarati and that the judge can not disqualify himself from further handling the case based on mere allegations made in the media.

    Lawyers representing parties in the suit confirmed this development to The Nation Tuesday. Investigation by The Nation also revealed that Justice Kafarati has rescheduled the judgment for this Friday.

     

  • CCT trial: ‘Desperate politicians’ want to sponsor protests against me, Saraki alleges

    CCT trial: ‘Desperate politicians’ want to sponsor protests against me, Saraki alleges

    Embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday accused those he branded desperate politicians  of plotting to unleash sponsored protests against him in the wake of his trial for alleged corruption by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Saraki claimed yesterday that his political foes were out to turn the trial into a tool to damage his political career.

    Such people, he said in a statement by his chief spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, had started distributing money and other materials to faceless civil society organisations, market men and women associations and other shadowy groups with a view to instigating demonstrations in Lagos, Abuja and Ilorin starting from tomorrow.

    The aim of the sponsors of the proposed protests, he said, was to pollute public opinion against him, through forceful mobilisation of anti-Saraki protesters.

    The Senate President  is one of the 130 Nigerians mentioned in #PanamaPapers, the 11.5 million leaked financial and legal records of politicians, businessmen, celebrities, drug traffickers and sports stars from the internal database of the Panama-based law firm and offshore-provider, Mossack Fonseca.

    He is said to own four assets abroad which were held in trust for him by proxies including his wife, Toyin.

    However, the four companies traced to Saraki are Sandon Development Limited, a vehicle used in acquiring a property on 8 Whittaker Street, Belgravia, London, in 2012;  Girol Properties Ltd, which was registered on August 25, 2004 (a year after Mrs. Saraki’s husband became governor of Kwara) in the British Virgin Island (BVI); Landfield International Developments Ltd., registered in the British Virgin Islands on April 8, 2014, with  Mrs. Saraki as sole shareholder; and Longmeadow Holdings Limited.

    A German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung, had reported that the four assets which Saraki claimed belonged to  his wife’s rich and famous family, were actually his and were only held in trust for him by his wife, Toyin.

    The newspaper also retrieved data exposing how the assets were transferred by Toyin to her husband, Bukola.

    Apart from Saraki, some Nigerians similarly fingered as owners of hidden assets in tax havens included Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd), Mr. James Ibori, Senator David Mark, among others.

    But the Senate President has continued to blame his political foes for his travails.

    The statement added, “As part of their plan, they are already distributing money and other materials to some faceless civil society Organisations, market men and women associations and other shadowy groups, with a view to instigating demonstrations in Lagos, Abuja and Ilorin, starting from Monday, April 11.

    “They believe that the on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal provides them the opportunity to stampede Dr. Saraki out of office so that their defeated objective of getting their lackey into the office of Senate President will be realised.

    “This is another desperate move by these spineless politicians to achieve through the back door what they failed to realize on the floor of the Senate.

    “We are alerting members of the public to the antics of these desperate politicians which may result into breach of public peace, order and health. Dr. Saraki is a peace-loving and law abiding politician.

    “The trial at the CCT is just beginning and while the prosecution’s witness has started giving evidence, he is yet to be cross-examined by the defence team. The defence has also not opened its own case. We urge members of the public to patiently wait for the conclusion of the case.

    “Since the fundamental principle of our legal system is that an accused person is presumed innocent until he is found guilty, Dr. Saraki will not allow any distraction to take him away from his responsibility as President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly,” his official statement said.

  • CCT trial: Saraki blames political foes for travail

    CCT trial: Saraki blames political foes for travail

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has blamed political foes for his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The Supreme Court gave nod to Saraki’s trial by the CCT, when it affirmed the statutory powers of the tribunal as they relate to its composition.

    But ahead of Friday’s trial, Saraki is alleging persecution and blackmail by his detractors.

    He believed he’s persecuted for defying his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to become Senate president on June 9.

    In a statement yesterday by Saraki’s Media Adviser, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, he alerted the public to attempts by his detractors to undermine him.

    He traced the “plot” to the same forces behind his trial before the CCT. Their objective, he said, was “to muddle up the case and blackmail key individuals and groups involved directly and indirectly in the case”.