NewsFederal Government Files Appeal Against CCT Acquittal Of Saraki

Federal Government Files Appeal Against CCT Acquittal Of Saraki

Ask ZiVA 728x90 Ads

BEVERLY HILLS, June 21, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government on Tuesday filed an appeal against the ruling of the Court of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, which acquitted the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of charges of corruption and false declaration of assets.

The CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, had on June 14 upheld the no-case submission which Saraki filed after the prosecution closed its case, clearing him of the 13 counts of corruption levelled against him.

Filing an eleven grounds of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja challenging the judgment of the CCT, the Federal Government also prayed the appellate court for an order calling upon Saraki to enter his defence.

The notice of appeal was signed by Rotimi Jacobs SAN and Pius Akutah, an assistant Chief State Counsel.

The tribunal chairman had upheld the no-case submission filed by Saraki at the close of the prosecution’s case, stating that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Saraki.

He, therefore, upheld the no-case submission made by the defendant’s counsel, Kanu Agabi SAN.

But in the notice of appeal, the government said the judgment was unconstitutional, without jurisdiction, unwarranted, unreasonable and against the weight of evidence.

It argued that the Tribunal failed to analyse and evaluate the evidence of the prosecution witnesses before reaching its no case submission.

The prosecution held that the CCT failed to point out any apparent discredited evidence on the face of the record before upholding the no case submission.

According to the government, the power of the CCT when upholding a no case submission is to discharge Saraki and not to acquit him.

It said the findings of the CCT that EFCC did not invite Saraki was not supported by the evidence tendered by the prosecution which was Saraki’s handwritten statement made after caution.

The government said the tribunal failed to be bound by the judicial precedent of a superior court of record and has denied the government its right to fair hearing as guaranteed by the Constitution.

It was further stated that the CCT unfairly closed its eye to a relevant testimony of prosecution witness and the various documents generated by the Guaranty Trust Bank which were admitted as evidence before the Court.

About the Author

Homepage | Recent Posts

More like this
Related

Dates Confirmed For CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup Finals

March 28, (THEWILL)- The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)...

Binance Executives Sue ONSA, EFCC, Seek Enforcement Of Fundamental Rights

March 28, (THEWILL)- Detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, a...

Newcastle’s Tonali Charged With Misconduct Over Betting Allegations

March 28, (THEWILL)- Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali has been...