According to news
making the rounds, the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja has
ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Solomon Arase and other
relevant security agencies in the country to arrest the Senate President, Dr
Bukola Saraki.
In a ruling this
afternoon, the tribunal headed by Justice Danladi Umar issued a bench warrant
against Saraki following his refusal to appear in court to face a 13-count
criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Ministry of
Justice.
The Federal Government
had through a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the
Federation, Mr M.S. Hassan, asked the tribunal to order Saraki’s arrest a few
hours ago.
Saraki who was billed
for arraignment this morning, sent his team of lawyers to serve the tribunal
with a copy of the ruling of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of
the Federal High Court, yesterday, which summoned the Ministry of Justice to
appear on Monday to show cause why the trial should be allowed to proceed.
Equally summoned by
the court were the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar and that of
the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, as well as Mr. Hassan who signed
the charge against Saraki.
Meanwhile, pissed by
Saraki’s absence at the tribunal for the commencement of his prosecution over
alleged false declaration of assets, the Ministry of Justice prayed the Justice
Umar-led panel to order for his arrest, saying “he cannot sit in the comfort of
his chamber and object to his trial in absentia”.
The prosecution
further maintained that Justice Mohammed lacked the powers to summon the CCT
and CCB chairmen, even as it accused Saraki of engaging in “forum shopping” in
a desperate bid to scuttle his trial.
Meanwhile, Saraki has
through his lawyer, begged the tribunal to consider his position as the Senate
President and stay the execution of the arrest warrant, saying he would be
available for trial on Monday.
His plea was refused
by Justice Umar who maintained that the accused person, having sworn to protect
the constitution, ought to have shown respect to the tribunal by appearing
before it today.
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