Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has frowned at the report published by SaharaReporters on October 19, 2015, on his ongoing case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), saying it is false and malicious.

The controversial U.S.-based portal had published a story claiming that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Alfa Modibo Belgore (Rtd), was engaged by the Senate President to compromise judges the panel of the Court of Appeal hearing his appeal concerning his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, with the view to influencing their decision in favour of the Senate President.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: “It is constant with the online newspaper, in its calculated attempt to always malign and bring to disrepute, on all issues and at all times, the Senate President.

“This malicious report by the Sahara Reporters is part of the desperation of the online newspaper to always drag the person of the Senate President in the mud where the owners and sponsors of the medium naturally dwell.

“Apart from the fact that Dr. Saraki will not get involved in transactions, discussions and actions aimed at destroying the judiciary or muffling the voice of justice, those who know the relationship between the duo, know that the former Chief Justice of Nigeria is not the type that will put his hard-earned reputation in jeopardy by getting involved in any attempt to subvert the cause of Justice.”

Continuing, Olaniyonu said: “Justice Belgore is known generally as a honourable jurist, incorruptible judge and a man of integrity. He is known to be an apostle of due process and would never stoop low as to rubbish his hard earned reputation, his integrity or that of the court. The mention of his name in this manner and in connection with this case reflects the limitless desperation by Sahara reporters in their bid to pull down the Senate President.”

The statement noted that Sahara Reporters “is nothing but a purveyor of lies, falsehood and represents the greatest dreg of the professional genre it pretends to represent.”

•Photo shows Saraki.

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