CCT: Saraki must be tried for Corruption...Supreme Court

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki will face trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) according to a 7-man panel at the Supreme Court which rejected his appeal challenging the decision of the Appeal Court which upheld his trial at the tribunal.

 A three-judge panel of the Supreme Court led by a retiring Justice John Fabiyi had on December 4, 2015, ordered a stay of proceeding by the Tribunal pending the determination of Mr. Saraki's appeal. The court also asked counsel on both sides to submit their briefs of argument within 14 days. The court then fixed February 5, 2016, to deliver its judgement.      

Mr. Saraki's appeal before the country's apex court contends that the CCT lacks jurisdiction to try him. His lawyers argue that the tribunal was not duly constituted as it comprised two instead of three members provided for by the Constitution. Also, the embattled Senate President's lawyers claim that the charges against Mr. Saraki were not competent.                   

A panel of Nigeria's Court of Appeal had earlier, in a split decision, affirmed the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try Mr. Saraki.