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Tag: Senate president

  • Recession: Saraki urges Nigerians in Diaspora to support FG

    Recession: Saraki urges Nigerians in Diaspora to support FG

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerians in Diaspora to support President Muhammedu Buhari’s administration to pull the country out of recession.

    Saraki said that Diaspora Nigerians should deploy their abundant skills and expertise which are in dire need in the country at this time.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, said that Saraki made the appeal during an interactive forum, organized at his instance, for the Nigerian community in Switzerland.

    It said that Saraki who led the National Assembly delegation to the 135th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, expressed his confidence that Nigerians in Diaspora have the skills and competences required to assist the government in its efforts to exit the current recession and for the progressive development of the country through investments.

    Saraki said the Senate and by extension the 8th National Assembly is working at passing legislation that would encourage Nigerians living abroad to return and invest at home even as he asked for their input on the kind of laws they want put in place to make their return profitable.

    Saraki told reporters after the event, attended by over 100 Nigerians, comprising students, businessmen and professionals living in Switzerland, that the session was necessary to apprise the Nigerian community of the situation of things back home and the opportunities for collaboration that exist.

    He said, “We find that it has become very necessary to interact and share ideas with Nigerians here because a lot of people are not well informed of what the responsibilities of the National Assembly are and some of the work we have been doing, both regarding passing new legislation that would improve the lives of Nigerians and to also give them a picture of the economy which today is a topic of great concern to all Nigerians both in and outside the country – particularly those in the Diaspora.

    “We want to really send a message across that the recession is a phase that we are passing through and hopefully, I am confident that very soon we will come out of it. But to come out of it, we have to take certain steps.

    “The steps that we hope to take in collaboration with the executive and the prospects ahead of us as a country – both for them in the Diaspora and the role they can play in working together with government to move the country forward,” he said.

    He urged his country men and women in Switzerland to partner with the government in critical sectors of the economy by deploying their capacity and making good investments, even as the National Assembly is putting laws in place to make it attractive for them to participate profitably in the economy back home.

    “Particularly here in Geneva, you find a lot of them are well qualified and doing very good jobs,” he said. “I am sure a lot of them will like to come back if the right condition is there. All we have to do now is to ensure that we have the enabling condition and environment that would make people come back.

    “And when you say investment, it is not just financial investment, there is also human investment where people will be ready to come back and look up opportunities. We talk about the issue of Information Technology (IT), and that there are great opportunities in Nigeria and how we can work together with some of them on the kind of laws that they think will make it very interesting and the incentive for companies to come in and set up different IT structures.”

    “If they do that, of course, they will be looking for people that have the capacity to be able to run it and some of them have that know-how, but they just don’t see what role they can play in Nigeria.

    “We spent some time explaining to them the importance of the procurement law and the buy-Made-in-Nigeria campaign where we are trying to ensure that at least government agencies ensure that they give first option to Nigerian companies.

    “That is some of the work we are doing to see that we strengthen our development banks, that will provide credit for small and medium size companies in the areas of manufacturing.

    “The good thing is that there is need and desire for a lot of them to want to come back. We have a lot of work to do to create the enabling environment but also more important, is that we must market ourselves.

    “I do not believe that not thinking positively about the country or that running down the country will help anybody. At the end of the day, if we do not think positive about our country, nobody will come and invest in our country and the bottom line is that it is clear that government resources alone cannot take us out of the recession.”

    The Senate President insisted that the burden of providing infrastructure must be taken away from the shoulders of government to enable it concentrate its scarce resources in tackling social ends.

    He said: “Government has to address infrastructure deficit which has built up over the years. Government has to address the issue of education, security and health and by the time you have the limited resources you are not able to do that because funds are not there.

    “You must look for alternative sources of investment and that is where the National Assembly is trying to pass a lot of laws in the infrastructure area. We have passed the Railway Amendment Bill to create the enabling environment for private sector to participate in that sector.

    “We are taking on roads to encourage and make it easy for private sector to take that burden away from government – at least on the major trunk A roads. We are working on laws also on ports to make room for private sector participation. If you begin to push away some of these infrastructure burden to the private sector, then of course, government will have more funds to address the social aspects of life.

    “Some of the things we are doing in the Senate is not just to go there to just pass any bill. There is a focus and motive behind it and that is to ensure that we try as much as possible to see how we can raise interest and investment in these sectors necessary to increase productivity,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Appeal court dismisses Saraki’s appeal against tribunal

    BREAKING: Appeal court dismisses Saraki’s appeal against tribunal

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has again affirmed the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on charges bordering on assets declaration breaches before the CCT.

    In affirming the ruling of the CCT presided over by Justice Danladi Umar, which affirmed the tribunal’s jurisdiction, Justice Abdul Aboki held among others that contrary to Saraki’s contention, the Attorney-General of the Federation had the power to institute charges against him before the CCT.

    Delivering judgment on Thursday in the appeal filed by Saraki, the Justice Aboki-led panel of the appeal court affirmed the CCT’s jurisdiction after dismissing the appeal filed by the Senate President challenging his trial before the tribunal.

    All the four other members of the panel unanimously agreed with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Aboki‎ who resolved all the eight issues formulated for determination against Saraki.

     

     

  • Senate will resist flouting of laws, says Saraki

    Senate will resist flouting of laws, says Saraki

    ‎Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that the National Assembly will resist any attempt to flout the laws of the country.

    He also reiterated the resolve of the National Assembly to place the welfare, interest and general well-being of Nigerians on the front-burner as a way of cushioning the effects of the present economic recession and hardship in the country.

    The Senate President vowed that the two chambers of the National Assembly would speak out loudly whenever the laws of the country were being flouted.

    He said that members of the two chambers would “demonstrate courage, make sacrifices, be accountable, and stand up for the people we represent.‎”

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, said that Saraki stated this while presenting his speech at the ongoing 135th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related matters, in Geneva, Switzerland with the theme: “Human Rights Abuses as precursors of Conflict: Parliaments as Early Responders”.

    It quoted Saraki to have assured that the National Assembly would continue to support efforts by the world legislative body to check human rights abuses across the world.

    Saraki was also quoted to have said that it was time national governments demonstrated courage in implementing laws against human rights abuses.

    He noted: “There are available laws addressing most of the human-rights related issues, the major problems are centered around non-implementation, poor oversight and lack of enforcement of these laws. We must speak out loudly when our laws are not obeyed and work in synergy with the other arms of government to ensure that human right violations wherever it occurs is condemned and addressed.

    “The National Assembly of Nigeria will continue to be a people-centered institution, where the interest and welfare of every Nigerian is paramount. As duly elected representatives of the Nigerian people, we will continue to work closely with every stakeholder in the arduous task of building a prosperous, secured and egalitarian society, where everyone will have a sense of belonging.

    “It is on this note that I wish to encourage this discourse and also throw the weight of the National Assembly of Nigeria behind the efforts of the IPU in ensuring early response on the part of Parliaments in checking human rights abuses in order to avoid needless conflict.”

    It said that Saraki told the world body that the National Assembly is working to reposition the Nigerian economy to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st Century on human development, economic and social rights as well as to reposition the Nigerian economy to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

    He said this can be achieved “by creating a business environment that would create more jobs and opportunities for the youth, promote and sustain domestic entrepreneurs and facilitate the economic inclusiveness and participation of all segments of society so that the overall standard of living and socio-economic wellbeing of all Nigerians will be raised.

    “Specifically, since the beginning of the year, we are working to fast-track over 40 priority bills recommended by the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER),” he said.

    Saraki said it is crucial for the world parliamentarians to see the issue of human rights as a global problem “because it is only by working together and in synergy that we can truly agree on a resolve.”

    He said: “The IPU is right by linking the pervasive lack of respect for human dignity as a source of conflict worldwide. Democracy cannot flourish in the midst of human rights abuses. These are often compounded by poor governance, resulting in injustice, whether real or perceived, national or global.

    “For example, a top United Nations Human Rights official recently called the siege and bombardment of eastern Aleppo as ‘crimes of historic proportions’ and accused all parties of violating international humanitarian law in Syria.

    “In the case of South Sudan, thousands of civilians have been killed often because of their ethnicity or perceived political alliances; where an estimated two (2) million people have been forced to flee their homes while large parts of key towns and essential civilian structures such as clinics, hospitals, schools have been looted, destroyed and abandoned.

    “Conflict in the North-East region of Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram activities, have directly affected over 4.5 million families. More than 1 million people in the North East region are in danger of extreme malnutrition and have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their own country. According to UNICEF, 130 children die every day as a result of lack of food. The UN estimates that about 7 million people need assistance especially food of which over 250,000 is under age 5.

    “Parliamentarians are the guardians of human rights. We work for the well-being of the people that we represent and should continue to develop legislative frameworks to ensure that our various human right laws are respected, implemented and properly over sighted.

    “In Nigeria, our legislative agenda emphasized human right issues relating to peace and security, sexual harassment, workers welfare, violence against women and children, amongst others.

    “To address these catastrophic realities, we have passed the Child Rights Act 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015. In March 2016, we allocated N10bn to IDPs in the North East in recognition of the dire situation. Parliamentarians agreed on a personal-allocation of an individual contribution to alleviate the plight of IDPs.

    “We have passed the North East Commission Act to ensure accountability and efficient structures for managing the nation’s humanitarian situation and providing special care for our IDPs.”

  • Senator raises alarm over Kaduna South killings

    Senator raises alarm over Kaduna South killings

    The Senator representing Kaduna South, Senator Danjuma La’ah, Wednesday raised the alarm over what he described as the increasing killings and destruction of property in his constituency.

    Senator La’ah who spoke under personal explanation lamented that it seemed his constituents have been left to suffer their fate.

    He blamed herdsmen for the killings and destruction of property in the area.

    He noted that herdsmen have taken killing and massive destruction of property, especially burning of houses, as a routine in southern Kaduna.

    The lawmaker prayed the Senate to mandate relevant government agencies to establish Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the area as a matter of urgency to avert crippling humanitarian crisis.

    He insisted that the Senate should quickly rise to the occasion to save the situation in the interest of the people of the area.

    He said that it is unacceptable that herdsmen should turn Kaduna South to a killing field without much being done to protect the people of the area.

    La’ah noted that though killings could be noticed in other places, the magnitude of killings and destruction of property in Kaduna south is incomparable.

    He said that it had become a source of embarrassment for him to always talk about killings and destruction of property in his constituency on the floor of the Senate.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said that since Senator La’ah made personal explanation, the issue he raised should not be open for debate.

    Saraki added that if La’ah wanted the issue discussed, he should propose a formal motion on the issue.

    He however concluded that the Senate has taken note of the issue raised.

  • Buhari to declare N/Assembly seminar on corruption open

    Buhari to declare N/Assembly seminar on corruption open

    President Muhammadu Buhari, will Tuesday declare open a two day seminar aimed at formulating a legislative framework for the anti-corruption fight in the country, the Senate said Monday.

    The seminar being organised by the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Anti-Corruption, has as its theme: “The role of the legislature in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

    A statement by the Special Assistant to Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, said that Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara will co-host the anti-corruption seminar.

    It said that Senate Committee Chairman on Anti-corruption, Senator Chukwuma Utazi, explained that “the seminar is to give legal strength to the anti-corruption fight of the present administration and to create legislative synergy for the anti-corruption fight”.

    “The seminar is aimed at making good the promise of the National Assembly that we are on the same page with the President Buhari led administration and in line with the legislative agenda, that there is a synergy between the National Assembly and the Presidency in the fight against corruption.

    “It is to reaffirm the point that you cannot clap with one hand. It is our way of saying that there must be a legislative strength to back the anti-corruption stance of the present administration”, Utazi said.

    The keynote address of the seminar, it said, will be delivered by Prof. P. L. O. Lumumba, Director General of the Kenyan Law School who is also an international scholar on the issues of corruption.

     

  • Senate assures on immediate review of tax laws

    Senate assures on immediate review of tax laws

    …PIB to be broken into sections for easy passage, says Saraki

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has assured that the Senate will streamline the country’s multiple taxation system to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

    Saraki stated this during a dialogue at the 22nd Edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

    While answering questions from the audience, Saraki noted that Nigeria’s corporate taxation system needed to be reformed and revamped to get the country out of the economic recession.

    He said, “With 37 million small and medium scale enterprises providing about 95 percent of our jobs, as we promote ‘Made in Nigeria’, we must also use our legislative powers to amend the taxation laws

    “To get out of this recession, we must provide a business-friendly environment.”

    Speaking on the ‘Made in Nigeria’ theme of the summit, the Senate President lauded the organisers for keying into the Senate’s plan to empower home-grown businesses and ensure that Nigerian brands are strong enough to be patronized by our people and exported abroad.

    He said, “Earlier this year, when in the Senate we started the ‘Made in Nigeria’ campaign, we knew how important it was, but even we did not foresee how far it would go.

    “To promote the patronage of our domestic businesses, the Senate has gone as far as amending the Public Procurement Act to compel government ministries, departments and agencies to key into this initiative.”

    “It is our hope that Nigerian businesses can begin to benefit from the over N2 trillion in government expenditure in the 2016 budget,” he continued, “So that we can reduce the demand on foreign exchange while simultaneously creating employment, moving towards self sufficiency, increasing our GDP and boosting our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Saraki also stated that the anti-recession Bills that the Senate has scheduled for passage by December ending include: the Petroleum Industry Bill; the National Development Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill; the Nigerian Ports and Habours Authority Act (Amendment) Bill; the National Road Fund (Establishment) Bill; the National Transport Commission Act of 2001; the Warehouse Receipts Act (Amendment) Bill; the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA); the Investment and Securities Act (ISA); the Customs and Excise Management Act; the Federal Competition Bill; and the National Road Authority Bill.

    He noted that since the beginning of the year,  the Senate has worked to fast-track the over 40 priority bills recommended by the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), an initiative in which the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is a major partner.

    The Senate President also said that one of the plans that the Senate has to ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in this administration, was to break the Bill into different sections for easier passage.

    The Senate President emphasised that with the passage of the PIB, Nigeria would generate more revenue from oil, putting it on track to come out of the economic recession.

    He noted that by focusing more on outcomes, rather than processes, the Senate has been able to pass 20 Bills for final reading in two weeks.

  • CCT: Court of Appeal reserves judgment on Saraki’s appeal

    CCT: Court of Appeal reserves judgment on Saraki’s appeal

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to trial him.

    Justice Abdu Aboki-led other four justices of the appellate court reserve the date after parties had adopted their written addresses.

    Aboki said that the date of the judgment would be communicated to the parties.

    The notice of appeal was filed on March 24 after Saraki’s motion challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal was dismissed.

    Adopting his address, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), Counsel to Saraki, urged the appellate court to upturn the decision of the tribunal which had arrogated to itself jurisdiction to try the applicant.

    “That is to say that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain the charge brought against my client,’’ he said.

    Agabi argued that under Section 3(d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, anyone alleged to have breached the provision must be given an opportunity for a written admission.

    He submitted that the non-compliance of the provision presupposed that the tribunal declared that legislation unconstitutional.

    “That is why we are here. Leaving an inferior court like the CCT to declare an important legislation unconstitutional will be fatal,’’ he said.

    Agabi further said that the applicant should not have been taken to the tribunal, adding that Saraki was not given his full right of admittance to the error spotted in his assert declaration forms.

    “If the Code of Conduct Bureau had followed the provision of the law we would not have been here. Saraki was not given the right of fair hearing and we are surprised why this happened.

    “In the light of this, there is no statement from the applicant which should have been accompanied with the prosecution’s proof of evidence as stipulated in the Administration of Justice Act.

    “The other aspect is for the appellate court to decide whether it is right not to treat all identical cases equally,’’ Agabi said.

    He also said: “we are saying this because the tribunal had some time ago ruled itself out of a similar case filed against Sen. Bola Tinubu.’’

    Agabi submitted that it was clear that the action against the applicant was not in the interest of justice.

    According to him, it amounts to judicial absurdity to bring the applicant to court on alleged offence committed 13 years ago.

    “The Code of Conduct Bureau exists as a reconciliatory unit meant to correct errors spotted in asserts declaration forms and not created to send people to prison.

    “I urge the court to impress it on the two institutions to do the needful by availing the applicant the opportunity for a written admission.

    “I also pray the court to hold that the tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to try the applicant in the circumstance,’’ Agabi said.

    Agabi further averred that it was a breach of statutory provision that established the Code Conduct Bureau for either the EFCC or ICPC to assist it prosecuted alleged offences bordering around assets declaration.

    “In this case, the EFCC was brought in to investigate and prosecute the applicant,’’ he said.

    On his part, Chief Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the Prosecuting Counsel, prayed the court to dismiss the appeal, adding that it lacked merit.

    On Agabi’s submission that the applicant was not given the right of written admission, Jacob said that provision was an old law.

    Jacob said Section 3(d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act was contained in the 1979 Constitution but expunged from the amended 1999 Constitution.

    “I want to also make it clear before My Lords that the written statement of admission is different from the statement of defence that must accompany the proof of evidence.

    “The applicant was given sufficient right to file objections to all the allegations brought against him, therefore, it will be unfair for his counsel to claim that he was not given fair hearing,’’ Jacob said.

    Jacob also said the immunity status accorded the applicant by the constitution while being governor of Kwara for eight years delayed his prosecution, adding that it was not a case of selective justice.

    In a cross appeal filed by the prosecution team, the applicant was accused of abusing court process, as according to Jacob, most of the reliefs sought has been heard and decided by the Supreme Court.

  • Teachers’ Day: Saraki makes case for teacher’s welfare

    Teachers’ Day: Saraki makes case for teacher’s welfare

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday urged governments at all levels to prioritise the payment of salaries and general welfare of teachers in order to secure the future of the country.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, to mark this year’s Teachers’ Day, congratulated Nigerian teachers and their counterparts the world over for their sacrificial contribution to the advancement of knowledge and by extension, world civilization and development.

    Saraki reiterated his earlier call that teacher’s salaries should be included as an item in the capital vote of the budget to enable them receive their salaries and allowances as at when due.

    Saraki said: “There is an overarching need to prioritize teacher’s welfare so as to enable them continue to discharge their duties creditably and effectively particularly in this age of knowledge. It is only by doing that that we eliminate a situation where people either reluctantly go into the profession or go into it as a last option

    “It is a well established fact that teachers occupy a pristine place in our drive towards progress and development as a nation. Moreover, Teachers are the custodians of the repository of knowledge and as such should be seen as an integral partner towards an enduring development of our educational sector.

    “Issues of capacity building, training and re-training of teachers across the various tiers of our education architecture must form a fundamental aspect of our policies and national strategic plans. We must make deliberate and concise effort to boost teachers’ confidence and welfare. Every teacher must be assured of a minimum safety net during their pre and post retirement life.

    “Our teachers must be effectively protected by the existing pension schemes irrespective of their level of engagements i.e. Federal, State and at Local Government levels. Our teachers remain critical to the change we most earnestly desire in our educational sector in particular and the nation in general. We cannot afford to treat them any less,” he stated.

    He also called on teachers to rededicate themselves to their all important duty of spreading knowledge and banishing ignorance.

    “Our teachers must possess the necessary wherewithal for effective discharge of their assignment,” he said.

  • Senate receives 2017 MTEF

    Senate receives 2017 MTEF

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday forwarded the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the Senate for consideration and approval.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki read the memo containing the fiscal document on the floor of the Senate Tuesday.

    The MTEF and FSP lay the framework for the 2017 budget which members of the National Assembly are expected to debate and approve to pave the way for the presentation of the budget.

    President Buhari in the memo said that he is pleased to submit the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP to the National Assembly.

    The memo read in part, “Let me use this medium to express my gratitude for the enduring partnership between the legislative and the executive arms of government.

    “In particular, I note with appreciation the commitment and support that distinguished senators have continued to demonstrate with respect to the preparation, passage and implementation of the federal budget.

    “Pursuant to provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007, the preparation towards the submission of the 2017 budget to the National Assembly is progressing well.

    “The MTEF and FSP which provides the framework for the development of the 2017 budget was designed against the backdrop of a generally advanced global economic environment as well as fiscal challenges in domestic economy.

    “In this regard the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP articulates the Federal Government economic, socio and developmental objectives as well as the strategies for achieving this divine objectives and priorities.

    “I hereby forward the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP to the distinguished Senate and trust that it will be kindly considered expeditiously and approved so as to move the 2017 Federal Budget process forward.”

  • Saraki in fresh move against CCB trial

    Saraki in fresh move against CCB trial

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki has initiated a fresh move aimed at neutralising his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    This time, he has filed a new suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking among others, to restrain CCT and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) (who are listed as respondents) from proceeding with his trial.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/117/2016 was filed by one Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, who claimed to be “suing as attorney to Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki”).

    The new suit, a fundamental rights enforcement application, is one of the various attempts by the Senate President to stop his trial before the CCT for alleged corruption and false assets declaration.

    Saraki had challenged his trial up to the Supreme Court and lost. He has also lost past fundamental rights enforcement applications, the last being the one dismissed on April 15, 2016 by Justice Adamu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    In the new suit, the applicant seeks the court’s declaration that “the plan to resume the trial of Senator Abubakar Saraki at the CCT is a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    He also seeks an order compelling the CCT and AGF to suspend indefinitely, any plan to resume the trial at the CCT.

    Among the grounds relied on by the applicant, include that the trial at CCT was commenced at the wrong time; four years after Saraki allegedly committed the offences.

    “Having regard to the aims and objectives of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and its functions in sections 2 and 3 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCBT) Act, Senator Saraki ought to have been prosecuted by the respondents long before he returned to public life again in 2015 as an elected Senator.

    “Indeed, the CCBT Act never contemplated that an incumbent public office holder was already corrupt before he attained public office, otherwise, people like Senator Sraki, who had a case to answer regarding his activities between 2003 and 2011 would not have been permitted to return to public life.

    “However, four years later in 2015 4enator Saraki not only returned to public life as a Senator, he went on to become the President of the Senate, Chairman of the National Assembly and Nigeria’s number three citizen.

    “It is nobody’s fault that the 1st and 2nd respondents were not vigilant enough to stop or prevent Senator Sarki from attaining public office. If truly the respondents were proactive institutions of government, they ought to have prosecuted Senator Sarki immediately after he left office as Governor of Kwara State in 2011, but they never did.

    “The failure, refusal and/or negligence of the respondents to prosecute Senator Saraki for the offences he allegedly committed between 2003 and 2011 before he returned again to public life as a Senator, vitiated all his past alleged misdeeds such that, as of June 8, 2015 when he was inaugurated as a Senator, he was assumed to be a public office holder without blemish in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the respondents, otherwise they would have long since initiated proceedings against him.

    “The subsequent attempt to put Senator Saraki on trial over offences allegedly committed between 2003 and 2011 are not only tainted with political mischief and desperation, they constitute a breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing,” Okponipere said.

    However, the AGF, in a notice of preliminary objection, has faulted the suit and urged the court to dismiss it for lacking in merit.

    The AGF noted that the subject matter of the suit did not fall within the provisions of chapter four of the Constitution, containing the guaranteed fundamental human rights.

    “The appellant lacks the locus to institute this suit on behalf of Senator Saraki in the absence of any legal basis which prevents him (Saraki) from deposing to the affidavit accompanying this application himself.

    “The grant of the applicant’s reliefs will constitute an abuse of court/judicial process having regard to the fact that the subject matter of this suit has been determined by the Supreme Court,” the AGF said.

    When the case up for mention on September 29 before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, neither Okponipere nor his lawyer was in court, following which the judge adjourned it to November 16 for hearing.

    Meanwhile, the CCT will tomorrow deliver ruling on an application by Saraki seeking that the tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar withdraws from his trial on the grounds that Umar made some remarks in the course of the trial, which Saraki considered prejudicial to his case.

    Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN) – a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) – had in an application filed on June 13, 2016, accused Umar of making remarks that purportedly betrayed his bias against his client during the June 7, 2016 proceedings.

    Umar had, while expressing his displeasure at the delay tactics employed by Saraki’s legal team (comprising over 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria) warned that the delay strategy would not “reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial.”

    At the hearing of the application on June 21, Saraki’s lawyer argued that by his statement, the tribunal Chairman had already concluded that his client would be guilty and thereby exposed to “consequences.”

    In a counter argument, prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) faulted Saraki’s lawyers’ interpretation of the tribunal Chairman’s remarks.

    “That I am aware that the Chairman of this honourable tribunal on the said June 7, 2016 stated clearly that his mind is open to do justice to this matter and that he has no prejudice against any of the parties.

    “The statement allegedly made by the Chairman of the honourable tribunal was quoted out of context without referring to the statement made by the Chairman to the effect that his mind was open to do justice to this matter and that he has no prejudice against any of the parties,” Jacobs said.