Why I Snubbed The Code Of Conduct Tribunal- Saraki… READ The Full Statement

Here’s the full press statement from, his spokesperson, Yusuph
Olaniyonu, explaining why the Senate President snubbed the code of conduct
tribunal

CCT Defiance of Subsisting Court Order : Our Stand

Following the development in the Code of Conduct Tribunal
(CCT) today, Friday, September 18, 2015 when the Tribunal chose to ignore the
subsisting order of a Federal High Court by sitting, we hereby state our
position as follows:

1. While the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki,
had stated and maintains that he is ready to submit himself to due process of
the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes he has an inalienable
right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his
fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

2. It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki, having satisfied
himself that the case filed by the CCB and the manner in which the case was
filed show that he will not be given justice, resorted to the Federal High
Court for the determination of the issues of competence of the prosecutor as
well as compliance with the procedure stipulated in the Code of Conduct Bureau
and Tribunal Act.

3. The Federal High Court on Thursday, September 17, 2015,
therefore ordered that the all parties in the case should appear before it on
Monday, September 21, 2015. The implication of this ruling by a Court of
competent jurisdiction is that the sitting today has been overtaken by event.
It is for this reason that Dr. Saraki chose to go about with his normal
official schedule.

4. Today at the Tribunal, Counsel to the Senate President,
Mr. M. A. Mahmud (SAN), raised a motion stating that there is a pending
constitutional matter before the Federal High Court to be decided on Monday and
that the Tribunal should hold the trial until the constitutional matter is
disposed of.

5. We are however dismayed that the Tribunal chose to
disregard the order of the Federal High Court and the motion to suspend hearing
till Monday when all parties are expected to argue their positions on the
constitutional matter.

6. It is also a surprise to us that despite the application
by the lead counsel to the Senate President that he will produce Dr. Saraki on
Monday and the personality of the person involved as the Number three man in
the country, the Tribunal insisted on issuing a warrant of arrest as if its
intention is simply to embarrass Dr. Saraki. We are not unmindful of the fact
that the Tribunal is acting under political influence and external pressure.
This is dangerous to our democracy.

7. The conduct of the Tribunal today left nobody in doubt
that it cannot do justice on the matter before it. It is also clear that
today’s decision is an abuse of the rule of law which portends danger to our
judicial system. The Tribunal has equally set a bad precedent in the way and
manner it conducted itself during the proceedings.

8. We want to emphasise the fact that this is not part of
any war against corruption but using state institutions to fight political
opponents and seeking to achieve through the back door what some people cannot
get through democratic process.

9. We need to caution here that in a desperate bid to settle
political scores and nail imaginary enemies, we should not destroy our
democratic institutions and heat the polity for selfish reasons. Let us all
learn from history.

9. The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his
absence from the Tribunal today was based on the legal advice he received from
his counsel that the Tribunal will respect the decision of the Federal High
Court which is obviously a superior court of records. Also, he relied on a
letter from the Chief Justice of Nigeria directed to the Chairman of the
Tribunal last May that they are not judicial officers and are inferior to the
regularsanni High Court as defined by the law and that they take official oath
not judicial oath.

10. We will like to state therefore that Dr. Saraki will not
do anything to undermine the judicial process and authority but he will always
act to protect his fundamental human rights.