Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has finally agreed to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) tomorrow, a report from Abuja said. The report quoted the embattled Senate President as declaring that he is not afraid of the tribunal. He said he has decided as a law-abiding citizen appear before the tribunal pending the determination of his appeal for a stay of execution of the tribunal’s order for his arrest.

Saraki is facing a 13-count charge bordering on alleged corruption and false declaration of assets, levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). He is alleged to have failed to declare some assets during his tenure in office as Kwara State Governor from 2003 to 2011.

The Senate President failed to appear at the resumed trial by the CCT today, at the same time seeking the intervention of the Federal Court of Appeal in the imbroglio.

When the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), raised eyebrows over the absence of the Senate President, the defending counsel and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, said he was confused because the Chairman of the tribunal, did not rule on his promise but only “noted” and he “didn’t understand it as such (a ruling)”, adding: “I expected in the light of judicial practice, that I will get a positive response.”

Mr Daudu further appealed to the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Umar, to stay action and adjourn seating pending the decision(s) by the Court of Appeal, but the appeal is strongly objected by the prosecution counsel.

Mr Jacobs argued that the case can’t be adjourned as the accused, Bukola Saraki, has failed to appear before the CCT to take a plea, guilty or not, insisting that the composition of CCT is not the same as its quorum.

In his ruling, Justice Umar refused to be swayed by the defence, ordering Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, to produce Saraki before the tribunal when it resumes sitting tomorrow. That, however, may prove unnecessary in view of Saraki’s decision to show up at the tribunal when it resumes sitting tomorrow.

Saraki was originally orderd to appear before the tribunal last week Friday but he failed to do so, prompting Justice Umar to direct IGP Arase to arrest and produce him before the tribunal today – an order which was obeyed in the breach.

•Photo shows Saraki.

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