CCT Trial: Supreme Court rules against Saraki

The supreme court on Friday, February 5 dismissed the appeal of Bukola Saraki, the Senate president to stop his case at the code of conduct tribunal.

Senate president Bukola Saraki's trial in the Code of Conduct Tribunal continues

Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen who read the judgement said that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over the trial of Saraki.

“I find no merit in the appeal, it is hereby dismissed,” the court ruled.

Also, the court resolved the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants against Saraki.

The judgement was in the appeal of the senate president against the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Mahmud Mohammed, the chief justice of Nigeria  in November 2015 led a panel of seven judges announcing today as the  day of hearing on the matter after hearing the brief of the counsel to the plaintiff and the respondent. ‬

Joseph Daodu, Saraki’s lawyer, argued that the CCT in Saraki’s trial was not properly constituted. He also said that the tribunal was not a court of competent criminal jurisdiction. ‬
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“The CCT is just a disciplinary panel for public officers,” he had said.

Naij.com recalls that on November 5, 2015, Saraki’s lawyers walked out of the CCT courtroom after the tribunal ruled that the trial must continue despite the pending appeal at the supreme court.