30 Senators storm tribunal for Saraki in solidarity

No fewer than 30 senators yesterday stormed the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, to solidarise with the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, on his ongoing trial over alleged falsification of assets between 2003 and 2011, when he served as executive governor of Kwara State.
The senators, along with some members of the House of Representatives who were at the tribunal throughout the two hours duration of proceedings yesterday, later issued a press statement signed by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba (APC Sokoto South) declaring their total support and unalloyed loyalty to Saraki as president of the eighth Senate.
They said no amount of political persecutions or stage-managed trials against Saraki would make them remove him as the Senate president.
The statement titled ‘Senate is Solidly Behind Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki,’ reads: “After majority of us, senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, witnessed the appearance of our president, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal this morning, we are happy that he appeared at the tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his fundamental human rights.
“We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership. We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate president and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.
“By his appearance at the tribunal, he has demonstrated his firm belief in the rule of law and his respect for our judicial process. We join Dr. Saraki in affirming our commitment to rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.
“We only hope the other arms of government will ensure that due processes and procedures are followed in this trial and on all other issues.
“The eighth Senate restates its commitment to the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration.
“It is our belief that at the end of this trial, our democracy, Nigerians and the people will end up as the beneficiaries.”
Those at the tribunal, aside Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, were Senators Sha’aba Lafiagi (APC Kwara North), Rafiu Ibrahim (APC Kwara South), Theordore Orji (PDP Abia Central), Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP Abia North) , Samuel Egwu (PDP Ebonyi North) and Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP Bayelsa East) amongst others.