UPDATED: Saraki Ready To Prove Innocence In Court As Supreme Court Okays His CCT Trial

SAN FRANCISCO, February 05, (THEWILL) – The appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, was on Friday thrown out by the Supreme Court for lacking merit.

This is as the Senate President expressed disappointment over the ruling, but expressed readiness to prove his innocence in the charges preferred against him during the trial proper.

The Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen-led 6 man panel of judges had earlier ruled that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over Saraki’s trial.

On the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants against Saraki, the court held: “I find no merit in the appeal, it is hereby dismissed.”

Saraki had in October 2015, approached the Court of Appeal, asking it to quash his trial at the CCT on the ground that the CCT was not properly constituted, and that the tribunal lacked the power to try criminal matters.‎‎ ‪‎

But the appellate court on October 30, 2015, dismissed Saraki’s argument that the CCT was not a court of competent jurisdiction to handle the criminal charges preferred against him. It ruled that ‪“The CCT is a court of criminal jurisdiction,albeit limited jurisdiction.”

But Saraki, who in his reaction, revealed that he listened to the ruling of the Supreme Court in the appeal he filed to challenge the process of arraigning him before the CCT, stressing that “he however will like to put it on record that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial.”

A statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu said “The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper.

“Dr. Saraki will like to thank everyone who has expressed support for him from the beginning of the case. He assures everyone that at the end of the day truth will prevail and justice will be served.”