Saraki in the dock. Photo Femi Ipaye

Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja Bureau

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has been granted bail after signing an undertaking of good conduct. His trial continues on 21, 22 and 23 October.

Saraki earlier pleaded not guilty to all the 13 charges of false assets declaration against him.

Just before he pleaded not guilty to the last charge, Saraki protested again that the charges were not made known to him before now. “The Judiciary is on trial,” Saraki declared.

The Code of Conduct Bureau had filed a 13-count charge before the tribunal against the Saraki for false declaration of assets during his tenure as governor of Kwara in 2003.

The tribunal had on Sept. 21 ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest and produce Saraki to face justice after failing to appear before it to answer the charges.

At the resumed hearing, Mr Joseph Daodu (SAN), Counsel to the accused, told the tribunal that the case was adjourned for him to produce his client and not for Saraki to take plea.

He said he had filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal because it lacked criminal jurisdiction to entertain the charges.

Daodu also prayed the tribunal to entertain his client’s preliminary objections before any proceedings could take place.

According to him, Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates the authorities of the court, does not bestow any status on the tribunal to handle criminal matters.

“I, therefore, urge the tribunal to address the issue of jurisdiction before considering whether or not my client would enter into the dock,’’ he said.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), in his argument, urged the tribunal to compel Saraki to take his plea.

According to him, the record of the tribunal points to that direction.

Jaccobs said that it was the disposition of the defendant’s team to apply delay tactics to abort justice.

“My Lord, the court has ruled that today be set aside for the accused person to take his plea. I am therefore taken aback to hear the defendant counsel contemplating otherwise.

“This is practically a game plan to mislead the court. This same application was heard in the Federal High Court, in the tribunal and at the Court of Appeal yesterday.

“The three courts have directed all parties to appear before the tribunal today for the right thing to be done. My Lord, the right is for Saraki to enter the dock and take his plea,’’ he said.

In his ruling, Justice Danladi Umar, the Chairman of the tribunal held that the tribunal had criminal jurisdiction to hear the case.

“Having heard the argument from the parties I consider it expedient to remain resolute and to hold that the accused person must take his plea.

“The defendant counsel could afterwards come before the court with preliminary objections, but it is essential that the proceedings commenced,’’ Umar said.

The matter was adjourned till Oct. 21, Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, for trial