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Tag: Supreme Court

  • Supreme Court reinstates injunction order against Rivers APC congresses

    The Supreme Court on Monday set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, which vacated a stay order made by a Rivers High Court, against the conduct of All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses in the state.

    Delivering the ruling on the interlocutory appeal, Justice Centus Nweze, held that the decision of the Court of Appeal was in error.

    Nweze said the lower court was compelled to be guided by the judgments of the apex court, adding that the panel had to follow the law before arriving on its decision.

    “This court is the highest and final court of decision in Nigeria. All other courts must abide by decisions from here. Failure to do this amounts to gross misconduct by judges.

    “I hereby make an order setting aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt which vacated the stay order made by a State High Court in this matter,’’ he said.

    The judge held that the respondent (APC) was in contempt when some of its members invaded the court and disrupted the peace of the court during proceedings.

    According to him, it is against known procedure of court for such a party to approach an appellate court to be granted any prayers in a matter for which it is in contempt.

    “The action and attitudes displayed by members and agents of the respondent are complete affront on the judiciary and would not be condoned,’’ he said.

    Ibrahim Umar and 12 other members of the APC had approached the apex court challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

    Read Also: APC to critics: Stop playing politics with reform in oil sector

    The appellants had initially instituted a case in the Rivers State High Court challenging their exclusion from the party congresses.

    They prayed the court for a stay in the conduct of the congresses pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    Aggrieved by the action, a faction of the APC approached the appellate court where the stay order was set aside, thereby giving the party the freeway to conduct the congresses.

    Meanwhile, Justice Chinwendu Nworgu, on Oct.11 had delivered judgment on the substantive suit, where the court voided the list of candidates and sacked the state APC executive.

    Nwogu said actions taken by the APC during the pendency of the suit had been set aside because they were illegal and unconstitutional.

    The judge held that all those who purchased nomination forms for the ward congresses were entitled to contest the ward congresses of May 19, but were unjustly excluded by the party.

    Nworgu also set aside all the primaries of the Rivers APC, including the indirect election that produced Mr Tonye Cole, as the governorship candidate.

    NAN recalls that the suit allegedly stemmed from crisis between, Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation and Sen. Magnus Abe, an acclaimed governorship candidate of the party over the leadership of the party.

  • NJC seeks elevation of Justice Abbaji Aji to Supreme Court

    …Recommends appointment of Chief Judges for Abia, Benue, Ogun

     

    …Okays 3 new judges for Ogun High Court

     

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji to President Muhammadu Buhari, for appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court.

    The recommendation formed part of the decisions taken at the 87th meeting of the NJC held in Abuja between October 3 and 4 this year.

    Justice Abba Aji, currently of the Enugu division of the Court of Appeal, is from Yobe State.

    He was one of the eight judicial officers, who were directed by the NJC, to excuse themselves from duties, effective from November 2, 2016 on the request of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) pending the outcome of their investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS), on corruption allegation.

    Justice Abba Aji was among those the NJC, at its 82nd meeting held between May 31 and June 1, 2017, directed to resume their duties on June 7, 2017 on the grounds that no charges were brought against them by the AGF at the conclusion of their investigation.

    NJC, in its June 2, 2017 statement, directing Justice Abba Aji and others to resume duties, said: “To maintain the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary and sustain public confidence, the judicial officers were directed to excuse themselves from office with effect from 2nd November, 2016.

    “After deliberation, NJC noted that, out of the judicial officers directed to excuse themselves from performing their official duties, only three have been charged to court.”

    NJC’s Director, Information, Soji Oye said, in a statement on Friday that the council also, at the 87th meeting, recommended the appointment of Chief Judges for Abia, Benue and Ogun states.

    He said the council equally recommended the appointment of three judges for the High Court of Ogun State; President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State and the appointment of a Grand Kadi for the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kwara State.

    For the post of the Chief Judge of Abia State, NJC recommended Justice Onuoha Arisa Kalu Ogwe; it also recommended Justice Aondover Kaka’an as the Chief Judge of Benue State and Justice Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu as Chief Judge of Ogun State.

    The NJC recommended the appointment of Justices Oludayo Olubamise Osunfisan, Olusola Stephen Oloyede and Olatunde Hassan Oyajinmi as judges of the High Court of Ogun State.

    For the position of the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State, the NJC recommended Justice Eni Esan, while it recommended Zakariyah Abdulrasaq for the post of Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kwara State.

    Oye said: “the newly appointed candidates will be sworn-in after the approval of the President and their respective state governors, as the case may be.”

     

     

  • ‘Supreme court must declare saraki, others’ seat vacant’

    The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been urged to approach the Supreme Court on the need to declare the seats of Senate President Bukola Saraki and other defecting senators vacant.

    Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Ayo Arise, said the executive arm of government is empowered by law to invoke Section 68 (1) g of the 1999 Constitution to declare the seats of the defecting senators vacant.

    Speaking on a Channels Television current affairs programme, POLITICS TODAY, monitored in Ado-Ekiti, Arise said the defection of Saraki and his followers in the Senate, without a valid reason as prescribed by the Constitution are no longer members of the National Assembly.

    Arise, who was in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, and seeking a return to the upper chamber said approaching the Supreme Court would
    save the country from what he called “the ongoing defection mentality which has now become a recurring practice in Nigerian politics, especially in the build up to every election.”

    According to him, the issue at stake is far beyond individual or a group of people but rather a constitutional matter in order to move the country forward.

    The former lawmaker stressed that Nigeria will forever remain underdeveloped politically, if will fail to do what is right by adhering to the tenets and dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Arise said: “Law is not a respecter of anybody and it must not be held contrary in Nigeria hence the need for the law to take its course in the latest development and set the record straight once and for all. This will go a long way at bringing sanity and sanctity into the nation’s democracy”.

    “The Supreme Court in the case between Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde and Ondo State House of Assembly and others, had unambiguously settled the issue of defections, when it defined the difference between factionalisation and fractionalisation of a political party and explained the reasons that can warrant the defection of any elected member of the National or State Assembly without suffering the consequences as stated in section 68 (1) g of our Constitution.

    “It stated that, factionalisation of a party could not have warranted any lawmaker to change his or her party but held that, factionalisation through which a Legislator can defect must be in conformity with the section 68(2) of the constitution which states that, there must be a division in the party.

    “What “factionalisation or division” means here is that, there must be a parallel executive from the national to the ward level within the affected political party before the constitutional requirements that permits defection without forfeiture of one’s seat could be met.

    “And as at today, there is no such ground in the APC to allow Saraki and others to change from the party through which they became legislators without losing their seats in the National Assembly. They could participate in a new election to fill their seats in their new parties.

    Read Also: Masari dismisses state civil service

    “On the possibility of having the INEC budget for the 2019 general elections passed into law because of the current face-off between the National Assembly and the Executive, Sen. Arise noted that, the constitution allows the President to spend up to 50% of previous budget proposal in the event of a delay in passing a current budget by the Lawmakers.

    “Therefore, the question of whether or not the passage of INEC budget could be an obstacle towards the conduct of 2019 general elections may not arise because the President can source for funds through some special intervention funds pending the settlement of the political imbroglio.

    “The most practical and legal solution is to follow the dictates of our Constitution and declare the seats vacant by seeking the opinion of the Supreme Court again if anyone is doubt that any judgment of the Supreme Court is the law of the land.

    “The Constitution also empowers the Executive arm of the government to enforce our laws.”

  • Supreme Court must declare Saraki, others’ seats vacant, says Arise

    The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been urged to approach the Supreme Court on the need to declare the seats of Senate President Bukola Saraki and other defecting senators vacant.

    Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Ayo Arise, said the executive arm of government is empowered by law to invoke Section 68 (1) g of the 1999 Constitution to declare the seats of the defecting senators vacant.

    Read Also:Saraki: I’m not bothered by impeachment threat

    Speaking on a Channels Television current affairs programme, POLITICS TODAY, monitored in Ado-Ekiti, Arise said the defection of Saraki and his followers in the Senate, without a valid reason as prescribed by the Constitution are no longer members of the National Assembly.

    Arise, who was in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, and seeking a return to the upper chamber said approaching the Supreme Court would save the country from what he called “the ongoing defection mentality which has now become a recurring practice in Nigerian politics, especially in the build up to every election.”

    According to him, the issue at stake is far beyond individual or a group of people but rather a constitutional matter in order to move the country forward.

    The former lawmaker stressed that Nigeria will forever remain underdeveloped politically, if will fail to do what is right by adhering to the tenets and dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Arise said: “Law is not a respecter of anybody and it must not be held contrary in Nigeria hence the need for the law to take its course in the latest development and set the record straight once and for all. This will go a long way at bringing sanity and sanctity into the nation’s democracy”.

    “The Supreme Court in the case between Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde and Ondo State House of Assembly and others, had unambiguously settled the issue of defections, when it defined the difference between factionalisation and fractionalisation of a political party and explained the reasons that can warrant the defection of any elected member of the National or State Assembly without suffering the consequences as stated in section 68 (1) g of our Constitution.

    “It stated that, factionalisation of a party could not have warranted any lawmaker to change his or her party but held that, factionalisation through which a Legislator can defect must be in conformity with the section 68(2) of the constitution which states that, there must be a division in the party.

    “What “factionalisation or division” means here is that, there must be a parallel executive from the national to the ward level within the affected political party before the constitutional requirements that permits defection without forfeiture of one’s seat could be met.

    “And as at today, there is no such ground in the APC to allow Saraki and others to change from the party through which they became legislators without losing their seats in the National Assembly. They could participate in a new election to fill their seats in their new parties.

    “On the possibility of having the INEC budget for the 2019 general elections passed into law because of the current face-off between the National Assembly and the Executive, Sen. Arise noted that, the constitution allows the President to spend up to 50% of previous budget proposal in the event of a delay in passing a current budget by the Lawmakers.

    “Therefore, the question of whether or not the passage of INEC budget could be an obstacle towards the conduct of 2019 general elections may not arise because the President can source for funds through some special intervention funds pending the settlement of the political imbroglio.

    “The most practical and legal solution is to follow the dictates of our Constitution and declare the seats vacant by seeking the opinion of the Supreme Court again if anyone is doubt that any judgment of the Supreme Court is the law of the land.

    “The Constitution also empowers the Executive arm of the government to enforce our laws.”

  • N22.45b investors’ fund: Supreme Court to hear pending applications March 25

    The Supreme Court has fixed March 25, 2019 to hear all pending applications on the six-year-old case of the over N22.45billion belonging to the investors of Nospetco Fund Scheme, trapped in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    A five-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by  Justice Mary Ukargo Peter Odili adjourned the matter sequel to the failure of Mr Rowland Otaru (SAN), counsel  to four of the investors to appear in court.

    Other members of the panel are Justices Ejembi Eko, Kudirat M.O. Kekere-Ekun, Chima Nwueze, and Mustapha Dattijo Muhammad.

    When the case was mentioned the presiding Justice asked if any investor Otaru was representing was in court and whether they could explain their lawyer’s absence.

    One of the investors, Roland Badejo rose and informed the court that  Otaru was “indisposed”.

    Badejo added: “Whatever the court does, we will abide by it, maybe give us an adjournment in the case”.

    Appearing for the Appellant, Nospetco Oil And Gas Limited, Mr.  M. Bamidele from Ricky Tarfa’s chambers, told the court that Mr Debo Adeleke’s application of cross appeal could be heard without Otaru being present.

    According to Bamidele, “the  application was harmless and the appellant was not opposing it”.

    In his submission, Adeleke, who appeared for 10 of the investors in a representative capacity of over 13,747 other investors, pointed out that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Otaru could have sent any lawyer from his chambers either in Abuja or Lagos since he knew he would not appear in court.

    “My lords, even myself I am ill, notwithstanding, I still managed to come.

    “Assuming without conceding, he is genuinely ill, he ought to have sent, at least, one lawyer from his chambers to represent his clients, having been given notice of hearing,” Adeleke submitted.

    The apex court cut  in and told Adeleke to be patient, adding that it would be unfair to proceed on the case when Otaru was absent.

    The court, therefore, fixed further hearing in the matter for March 25, 2019.

    Following the decision of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), declaring a scheme founded by Nospetco Oil And Gas Limited illegal, some of the investors came together to form a group and on behalf of others, and through their lawyer, Debo Adeleke,  instituted a suit at the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST) for payment of their over N22.45b  trapped in the CBN.

    Following the tribunal’s ruling, which was in their favour, Nospetco Oil and Gas appealed the ruling,  but lost.

    Dissatisfied, the oil company again appealed to the Supreme Court to quash the the lower court’s decision.

    The investors through their lawyer  also cross appealed on whether it is IST or a high court that has proper jurisdiction to handle the case.

    While waiting for the hearing of the case to commence at the apex court, they became factionalised, with Adeleke and Otaru, representing different factions of the investors.

    The issue of representation  was finally resolved in February when a five-man panel of Justices of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Bode Rhose-Vivour held that  Adeleke could appear for over 13,747 of investors and Otaru for four of them.

  • Supreme Court upholds death sentence on 3 Bakassi Boys

    THE Supreme Court yesterday upheld the conviction and death sentence handed to three members of the notorious Bakassi Boys Vigilante group that once held sway in Abia State. A five-man panel of the court, led by Justice Dattijo Mohammed, made the pronouncement in three judgments delivered on three appeals filed individually by the Bakassi Boys’ members. The panel found, in the three judgments, that the three – Emmanuel Eze, Adiele Ndubuisi and Stanley Azuogu – actually committed murder and deserved the death sentence served on them by the trial court, which the lower court (Court of Appeal) upheld.

    The judgments were on the appeals marked: SC/487/2015 (by Emmanuel Eze), SC/488/2015 by Adiele Ndubuisi) and SC/489/2015 (by Stanley Azuogu). A member of the panel, Justice Amina Augie, in her lead judgment, in one of the appeals, said the line of defence by the appellant, anchored on the grounds of provocation, was untenable. The appellants had, among others, prayed the apex court to reduce their conviction for murder to manslaughter (which could attract lesser punishment) on the grounds that they were allegedly influenced by the state government. Justice Augie said such a request was not supported by the law. She described the Bakassi Boys’ conduct as bestial and lawless. She also described the Bakassi Boys as “nothing but outlaws.” She added: “They are lawless persons operating outside the law, who desecrate the laws of the land in their unlawful and misguided quest to dispense justice by killing alleged criminals.”

    She noted that, in the absence of anything said or done by the deceased in the presence of the Bakassi Boys, making the assailants “to suddenly and temporarily lose their passion or selfcontrol”, the defence anchored on provocation could not fly. Justice Augie said: “The appellant admitted that the Bakassi Vigilante Group to which he belonged was an unlawful association that dealt with alleged criminals with extreme measures which flagrantly breached the provisions of the law on fair hearing. “Having desecrated the laws of the land with such relish and reckless abandon, and being convicted for murder, the appellant is urging this court to allow the appeal, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on May 5, 2010 and substitute his conviction on manslaughter, since he was incited by a third party. “There are a few things that were wrong with that line of defence. “First of all, it was more of implicating the Abia State government in the offence they have committed rather than a valid defence in law.’’

  • I am happy that I have been vindicated – Saraki

    —Insists trial politically motivated

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday reiterated his confidence in the judicial process and the ability of the Judiciary to do justice to all manner of men and in all circumstances.

    A statement he personally signed after the judgement of the Supreme Court which upheld the earlier decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), discharging and acquitting him of all 18 count charge instituted against him, Saraki expressed gratitude to all Nigerians who have supported him since the case commenced three years ago.

    Saraki said, “At the end of a tortuous journey of 1018 days, counting from September 22, 2015, when the case began at the Tribunal, I am happy that I have been vindicated.

    “The Supreme Court has affirmed that there is no evidence of false declaration of assets. The court also observed that certain agents took over the responsibility of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in this trial, and one can infer that this was done towards a pre-determined end.

    “This outcome has gladdened my heart and further strengthened my belief in this country and as well as my faith in the Almighty Allah, who is the righter of all wrongs. God has vindicated me today before the judgement of man, and I am most thankful and humbled at His grace and infinite mercies.

    “Through it all, I refused to be shaken, knowing, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, that the arch of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice. I knew the day would come when justice would prevail and I would be exonerated.

    “I have always believed in the infallibility of our Judiciary, secure in the knowledge that our courts – the last refuge of the oppressed – would never condemn the innocent. This outcome is also a vindication of my belief in the rule of law.

    “As I said in my first appearance at the CCT, this is a politically motivated case. The case was trumped up in the first instance because of my emergence as the President of the Senate, against the wishes of certain forces. Ordinarily, I doubt anyone would be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over 15 years ago.

    “What we have seen is the opposite. Instead of working together in the interest of the nation and to seek to do better for our people, we are fighting one another and using legal instruments to mount baseless accusations against one another. Instead of exhibiting the need for unity and working day and night for that purpose, we are stoking the fire of division and rancour. I maintain that, above all else, my CCT trial has been a flagrant vilification of my person, and shows that some people are after their personal interests rather than the national interest.

    “As a result of the war of attrition, various arms of government have wasted resources needlessly. It has been three wasted years across board in this country. Three years that would have been devoted to tackling issues affecting Nigerians, including: economic recovery, insecurity, youth unemployment and strengthening national institutions – were wasted on malicious prosecution. People were ready to trade-off three years that would have been devoted to fostering cooperation, unity and economic progress for their selfish ends. It is my hope that those who are behind my persecution will see the handwriting on the wall and leave me to do the work for which I was elected, so I can continue to give my all to this great country of ours.

    “As many have rightly observed, it is plain to see that the anti-corruption fight is being prosecuted with vindictiveness, to target perceived political opponents. I believe in the need to fight corruption, but I will never be party to the selective application of the law or the rhetoric of an insincere anti-corruption fight.

    “I believe in fighting corruption and I have made my own humble contributions to the fight against corruption in this country. As a presidential aide, I initiated the process that led to the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. I was the first governor to establish the Price Intelligence Unit which later metamorphosed into the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) at the federal level. In the history of this country, the highest fraud, the most brazen corruption has been the Fuel Subsidy scam. No one wanted to talk about it or confront entrenched powers. As a Senator on the platform of the ruling party at that time, I sponsored a motion on the floor of the Senate calling for investigation that led to the unprecedented exposure of the massive corruption in the fuel subsidy regime. That was my only point of departure with the former President. My antecedents speak for themselves.

    Read Also: Kwara APC hails judiciary on Saraki’s acquittal

    “I thank Nigerians for standing by me through the difficult period of this trial. The support of ordinary Nigerians and their faith in me, as well as their sophistication and discernment in seeing this case for what it was, has been a source of strength to me.

    “I am most grateful for the support of my Distinguished Colleagues and the Honourable Members of the 8th National Assembly, for their unflinching support and regular attendance at the various proceedings. They were unfairly criticised for accompanying me on court appearances, but it is now clear that they did so because they believed that injustice to one, is injustice to all. They have been the true embodiment of esprit de corps. I thank them for banding together in the face of an unconscionable attack on the institution of the legislature.

    “I thank my legal team for their determined and principled stance, and for their knowledge and diligence, which saw this case to its just conclusion. My gratitude to all my friends, political associates, supporters and the good people of Kwara State – all of whom have been solidly behind me.

    “I thank my family for enduring this trial with their usual grace and fortitude. My immense gratitude also goes to the international community for their interest in this case. The Nigerian press have kept watch and I appreciate their vigilance in ensuring that all the facts were held up to scrutiny.

    “To my supporters, yes, there is a reason to rejoice, but our celebration must be tempered with the sobering lessons of the attempted injustice from Day One of this trial. We all have to canvas for fairness in the fight against corruption. We should see this verdict as an inspiration to champion the rule of law, promote democracy and its institutions as well as tolerance of divergent views.

    “The overwhelming support of so many, and the insistence on ensuring that due process and truth prevailed, has made this verdict possible,” he stated.

  • Non-assets declaration: S/Court discharges Saraki

    The Supreme Court on Friday discharged the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from further trial on allegation of non-assets declaration brought against him by the Federal Government.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Centus Nweze, held that the Dec.12, 2017 decision of the Court of Appeal against Saraki was based on hearsay.

    The judge said the prosecution failed to present material evidence in the trial, adding that the testimonies of all the four prosecution witnesses were based on secondary information.

    The judge said it was unthinkable that the lower court arrived at it decision even when it was clear that the testimonies of the witnesses were woven around the inadmissible evidence.

    “Such an approach speaks ill of our jurisprudence. The truth is that courts must arrive at their verdicts through a process of reasoning which is analytical.

    “The Court of Appeal was however right in its finding that all material evidence adduced by the prosecution was hearsay.

    “I make bold to hold that the Court of Appeal was in grave error when in face of absence of material evidence, held that the prosecution established prima facie case against the appellant

    “Against this background, I have the duty to vacate the judgment of the lower court.

    “In its place, I hold that from the testimonies of the four witnesses, the prosecution failed to enter a prima facie case against the appellant.

    Read Also: Supreme Court frees Saraki on false assets declaration charge

    “I, therefore, in command and in line with Section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, enter an order discharging the appellant accordingly.

    “I restore the judgment of the trial tribunal forthwith. The cross appeal filed by the prosecution is hereby dismissed’’, the judge held.

    The judge also enjoined the prosecutorial authorities and the courts to ensure that a defendant in a criminal proceeding must be tried and convicted in accordance with due process of law.

    The News men recall that the appeal court upturned Saraki’s acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The three-man panel, led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson unanimously ruled that the Senate President return to the CCT to face trial on three counts out of the 18 initially slammed on him.

    The court dismissed the remaining 15 counts and ordered the remittance of the three back to CCT for continuation of the trial.

    Dissatisfied with the decision, Saraki approached the apex court praying it to discharge him from the remaining 3-count charge.

    The CCT, chaired by Mr Danladi Umar, discharged and acquitted Saraki on 14 July, 2017 over allegations of false assets declaration.

    His ground was that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

    The tribunal had maintained that the evidence against the senate president was insufficient and wishy-washy.

    According to Danladi, Saraki was able to discredit all the evidence adduced by the prosecution.

  • Assets declaration: Supreme Court decides Saraki’s fate today

    THE Supreme Court will today give judgment in the appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki and a cross-appeal by the Federal Government.

    The main appeal and cross-appeal are against the December 12, 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja in an earlier appeal by the prosecution in the trial of Saraki for alleged false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The CCT, headed by Danladi Umar, had in a ruling in June last year, upheld Saraki’s no-case submission and dismissed the 18-count charge on which he was being tried.

    The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which partially upheld the appeal in the December 12, 2017 judgment.

    The Court of Appeal restored three counts out of the 18 contained in the charge and ordered Saraki to enter defence, in respect of the three counts, before the CCT.

    Saraki appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and prayed the apex court to among others, restore the decision of the CCT and dismiss the charge in its entirety.

    In the cross-appeal, the prosecution wants the Supreme Court to restore the entire 18 counts and order Saraki to enter defence in respect of all the counts.

     

     

     

  • Assets declaration: Supreme Court decides Saraki’s fate today

    THE Supreme Court will today give judgment in the appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki and a cross-appeal by the Federal Government.

    The main appeal and cross-appeal are against the December 12, 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja in an earlier appeal by the prosecution in the trial of Saraki for alleged false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The CCT, headed by Danladi Umar, had in a ruling in June last year, upheld Saraki’s no-case submission and dismissed the 18-count charge on which he was being tried.

    The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which partially upheld the appeal in the December 12, 2017 judgment.

    The Court of Appeal restored three counts out of the 18 contained in the charge and ordered Saraki to enter defence, in respect of the three counts, before the CCT.

    Saraki appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and prayed the apex court to among others, restore the decision of the CCT and dismiss the charge in its entirety.

    In the cross-appeal, the prosecution wants the Supreme Court to restore the entire 18 counts and order Saraki to enter defence in respect of all the counts.