Members of the upper chamber of the national Assembly have been advised to stay off the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in Abuja, where the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is undergoing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, told the Senators accompanying their leader to the place to face their constitutional legislative duties.
Justice Umar made this remark after counsel to Saraki, Kanu Agabi (SAN) asked for an adjournment to enable the lawmakers sit.
He pointed out that it was the personality of the accused, who happened to be the Senate President, that was on trial and not the entire Senate.
The CCT Chairman then declared that the Senate was not on trial before the tribunal and therefore said the lawmakers had no reason being in court daily. He then consequently asked them to stay back at the Senate and conduct their constitutional duties.
“The Senate is not on trial. The senators should sit down and do their work. They don’t need to be here. It is shameful and disgrace to the nation,” he posited.
However, Saraki said his trial would not disturb the activities of the Senate, saying the trial proper had commenced and the Senate was in session and that he would not want the prosecution to affect legislative business.
Hear him, “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 made this known in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu.
