As the trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, continues at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Tuesday, despite a statement from Dr. Saraki on Monday night that Senators should focus on attending the Senate plenary on Tuesday morning, and not his trial, as at 1:30pm, over 30 Senators from both parties were present at the tribunal.
Speaking with newsmen, a South Eastern Senator who did not want to be named, stated that immediately the Senate plenary adjourned, he and his colleagues rushed to the CCT to stand in solidarity with the Senate President, who many believe is being persecuted by the CCT on the authority of cabals within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who were opposed to Saraki’s emergence.
Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman Danladi Umar had said on Monday that the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for false assets declaration need not affect proceedings in the Upper Chamber as the personality of the defendant (Saraki) is different from the institution.
Umar said it would be erroneous for people to conclude that the tribunal’s decision to henceforth, conduct on day-to-day basis, Saraki’s trial, would cripple the Senate.
“The person, who happens to be the Senate President, is the one on trial. Others should go ahead with the business of the house. We are not trying the Senate. Members of the Senate have statutory responsibilities which they must carry out. They should go ahead. We will also go ahead with our work. The Senate can carry on with the business of the Senate,” he said.
__________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2015 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
