Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in
Abuja, yesterday, justified its decision to
suspend further proceedings on the assets
falsification charge the Federal Government
preferred against the Senate President, Dr.
Bukola Saraki, saying it was taken in the
interest of justice and the right to fair hearing.
Saraki
The CCT, in a statement signed by its Head,
Press & Public Relations, Mr. Ibraheem Al-
Hassan, said its decision to adjourn the case
sine-die (indefinitely), was anchored on
section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as
amended.
The Justice Danladi Umar-led two-man panel
tribunal said the clarification was necessitated
by some reports in the media insinuating that
it was the CCT Chairman that “outrightly
adjourned the case indefinitely without stating
the reasons.”
The statement added: “We felt that such
reports were not balanced, one-sided, and
written in bad faith. However, the tribunal
wished to state that the decision was taken in
the interest of justice and the right to fair
hearing, section 36 of the Constitution and the
right to appeal from the decision of a lower
court.
“Tribunal is not insensitive to the
circumstance under which the defendant was
asked to return back to the Tribunal by the
Court of Appeal to answer questions relating
to counts 4, 5 and 6.”
Al-Hassan said the CCT Chairman had noted
that both the prosecution and the defense
counsel filed an appeal before the Supreme
Court challenging the decision of Court of
Appeal with respect to the charge.
He said it was on the basis of the appeals
that the CCT held that it would be hesitant to
take further steps in Saraki’s case, “pending
when the appeal is considered and determined,
which would of course definitely determine the
outcome of judgement of the Tribunal on
count 4,5 and 6.
“The tribunal held that to be on a safer side
and to be fair to both parties, the tribunal
decided to tarry for a while so that the
integrity and powers of the Supreme Court
would not be jeopardized.
“The tribunal felt that the issue raised by the
defence counsel is so germane to wait for the
outcome of the appeal before tribunal
proceeds, therefore on the basis of that
tribunal adjourned matter to enable the
Supreme Court dispose off the appeal before
it”, the statement further read.
It will be recalled that the CCT had last week
Thursday, announced its decision to “tarry for
awhile” in the matter, on a day both FG and
Saraki appeared through their lawyers to adopt
their final briefs of argument for judgment to
be delivered in the case.
FG’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had
urged the tribunal to go ahead with the case,
contending that suspending further proceeding
would amount to granting Saraki’s desire.
He said: “Ordinarily we would have said your
lordships should tarry awhile to protect the
authority and integrity of the highest court,
but the prosecution will urge the tribunal to
proceed, in view of the position of the law
today.’’
On his part, Saraki’s lawyer, Mr. Kanu Agabi,
SAN, commended the CCT panel for
acknowledging the superiority of the apex
court, saying there was need for further
proceeding to be suspended in the matter to
await the outcome of the appeal that was
lodged by his client and a cross-appeal that
was filed by FG.