Saraki Pleaded Not Guilty, Says Judiciary Is On Trial
Fatimah Abdullahi
Nigeria Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was on Tuesday docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal inside a box labeled “accused box” after a short argument between the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), who was insisting that the day’s sitting was not for the taking pleas.
The Senate President told the tribunal, in his opening remarks that he is a firm believer in the rule of law and pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges preferred against him.
Saraki is facing a 13-count corruption charge on false declaration of assets. Just before he pleaded not guilty to the last charge, Saraki protested again that the charges were not made known to him before now.
“The judiciary is on trial,” Saraki declares. But the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) insisted that the charges were made known to the accused.
Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, ruled that trial before the tribunal was criminal in nature and as such further argument will be taken after the accused had taken his plea.
The management of the tribunal ordered TVC and Channels television to stop live transmission of the proceedings which was ignored.
The case has been adjourned to October 21, 2015.
