The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday ordered daily hearing in the ongoing 13-count criminal charge against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Tribunal chairman Danladi Umar made the order pursuant to provisions of sections 376 and 315 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
This is even as Senators loyal to Saraki came under knocks from the tribunal which frowned at their continued presence at the trials at the expense of their constitutional duties at the hallowed chambers of the senate.
Mr. Umar, specifically declared that the Senate was not on trial before the tribunal and therefore senators have no reason being in court daily saying it would be in the interest of the nation that the Senators stay back to discharge their constitutional duty.
He spoke after counsel to the Senate President, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) had requested for an adjournment to enable Senators sit.
Umar explained that it is the personality of the accused, who happened to be the Senate President, that was on trial and not the entire Senate.
Earlier, in opposing to Agabi’s request, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had said it was shameful and disgraceful that the Senators were in court, as according to him, they were not parties and as such, not needed to be in court.
Saraki reacts
But Saraki said his trial will not disturb the activities of the Senate.
At the preliminary stage of the trial, senators had always accompanied the Senate President to the tribunal each time the case came up for hearing. But Saraki said now that the trial proper has commenced and the Senate is in session, he would not want the trial to affect legislative business.
“I am the one on trial not the Senate. Even though I have been overwhelmed by the solidarity displayed by my colleagues, it is important that the work of the Senate is not unduly affected by this process, “ he said.
The Senate President affirms that the legislative body being an institution, would not be affected by the absence of any of the principal. (Daily Sun)