CCT Trial: S’Court Rejects Saraki’s Appeal

An appeal at the Supreme Court by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, challenging his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, has been dismissed.

The apex court on Friday held that the Danladi Umar-led CCT was validly constituted by two members.

Saraki was arraigned before the CCT on charges bordering on false declaration of assets, but the Senate President argued that the Tribunal was not properly instituted.

A seven-man panel of the apex court presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously threw out Saraki’s appeal against the jurisdiction of the trial and competence of the charges for lacked of merit.

Justice Wallter Onnoghen, who read the lead judgment, held that the tribunal was by the provisions of its enabling laws and the Constitution conferred with the quasi-criminal jurisdiction and thus could validly issue bench warrant.

He dismissed the allegation by Saraki that he was not properly served with the charges and also held that the charges filed before the CCT before the appointment of the Attorney-General of the Federation were valid.