Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court judgment that he should face corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The apex court on Friday dismissed Saraki’s appeal against his trial on a 13-count charge of false asset declaration.
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) said he committed the offence, and maintained a foreign account, when he was governor of Kwara State.
In the lead judgment taken by Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, the court held that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over Saraki’s trial.
It also resolved the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants against Saraki.
Saraki argued the charges were politically motivated, and challenged the powers and composition of the CCT to hear the case.
He also asked the Court of Appeal to quash the charges.
Saraki later appealed to the Supreme Court after losing at the Court of Appeal.
In its ruling Friday, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Appeal Court.
Expectedly, Saraki said he was “disappointed” with the ruling.
He said the matter before the court was not the substantial case of corruption allegation against him, but some preliminary matters.
A statement signed by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, reads: “After listening to the ruling of the Supreme Court in the appeal he filed to challenge the process of arraigning him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki hereby states as follows:
“He expresses disappointment over the Judgment of the apex court in the country on the six grounds of his appeal.
“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.
“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.”
