The 2-year and 3-month trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on charges of false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal has finally ended. The apex Court, Supreme Court in its ruling on Friday brought the case to a close. The court submitted that the Court of Appeal panel engaged in ‘forensic somersault’ when it held that the senator should answer three among the charges. The Supreme Court in a judgment read by Justice Centus Nweze upheld Saraki’s appeal and dismissed that of the Federal Government. Justice Nweze agreed with the CCT that that the evidence led by the prosecution at the tribunal was entirely hearsay.
He held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to have restored three out the 18 counts earlier dismissed by the CCT having concurred that the evidence led by the prosecution was hearsay but still went ahead to order a retrial in three out of the 18-count charges. Puncturing the Court of Appeal’s position, Justice Nweze said it amounts to ‘ judicial equivalent of a forensic somersault’ . Whilst the court battle lasted, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has had to frequent the tribunal sittings as he was required to appear in person anytime the tribunal sat. The political office holders, party chieftains and stakeholders in the state political circle are, however, the most relieved as they have had to also journey to Abuja from Ilorin to attend the tribunal sittings.
Global Excellence gathered, however, that no case of auto accident was recorded in spite of the frequent trips to the nation’s capital by the supporters. The only negative incident recorded was that of the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Balogun Ishola Fulani and the former state Secretary, Chief Bode Adekanye who were kidnapped while traveling to Abuja for the court sittings and they were only guests of the kidnappers for just two days.
