Saraki Finally Appears At CCT, Pleads Not Guilty

Following a statement issued by the media office of the Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Monday, September 21, where the country’s number three citizen announced his decision to attend his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal today (September 22), Naij.com reports that the Senate president has kept his word by showing up this morning.

Naij.com correspondent reports that the Senate president was sighted entering the CCT this morning at about 9.32am accompanied by no fewer than 50 senators and some members of the House of Representatives, his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu. Also on his entourage are ex-governors Dr. Sam Egwu of Ebonyi state, Theodore Orji of Abia state, now a serving senator. Other senators comprised Ike Ekweremadu, Shaba Lafiaji, Aliyu Wamakko, Rafiu Ibrahim, Tayo Alasoadura, Hamma Misau, Samuel Anyanwu as well as Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi.

It is also reported that journalists were barred from covering the trial, and that there is heavy security presence and screening currently ongoing at the CCT. Officials of the anti-bomb unit of the Nigerian police force are also on ground.

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Senate president Bukola Saraki docked at tribunal

The legal team of the Senate president remain the same and are still led byJoseph Daudu, ( SAN) a former president of the NBA. The CCT chairman, Justice Danladi Umar just arrived and proceeding has commenced, but no recording allowed as some overzealous security men are seizing phones and recording devices. Permission has now been granted for recording to start but not from the people on the bench.

The counsel to Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs in his opening speech said this is the first time in his years of practice that a case will be heard by three courts at the same time ( day). Counsel to Saraki, Joseph Daudu does not want the Senate president to take his plea. But, counsel to the federal government is praying the court that the accused (Saraki) should go to the accused box, and in a reaction to the prosecutor’s prayer, Saraki’s counsel corrected the judge that Saraki should not be referred to as the accused instead he should be called the defendant.

The Senate president while taking his plea as the trial commenced, pleaded not guilty to the 13 count charge levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.Saraki explained that he came on his own volition to show he is a law abiding citizen, adding that he is just hearing the charges for the first time.

In response, the judge vacated the bench warrant on Saraki, a decision the counsel to the federal government, Jacobs  countered, saying he served the Senate president since last week.

The tribunal has, however, adjourned the trial to October 21st and 23, 2015.

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Senate president Bukola Saraki before he was docked this morning

Meanwhile, there was a mild drama between security operatives drafted to guard the Presidential villa gate and the convoy of the Senate president as early as 6.am this morning. The security operatives told the country’s number three citizen and his entourage to turn back and enter through the main gate from the Federal Secretariat, insisting that they are acting on “an order from above.”

Recall that the CCT ordered the arrest of Saraki yesterday for failing to appear at the tribunal court proceedings to stand trial for a 13-count charge of corruption levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau following his asset declaration.