By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
There is no escape route for Senate President, from facing his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
In another setback for his various moves to stall his trial for false asset declaration, the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday dismissed the motion of one of his lawyers, asking the Chairman of the Tribunal to disqualify himself from presiding over the trial .
Saraki had in the motion argued by Raphael Ajibola Oluyede that there is an ongoing investigation of Justice Danladi Umar by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and since the anti-graft agency is also prosecuting the defendant, he may not get justice.
But while dismissing the application, Justice Umar said there is no evidence that he is currently undergoing investigation by the EFCC.
He said the anti graft agency had in a letter on 5 March, 2015 to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice that after its investigations, there are no sufficient facts to prosecute him on the allegation that he solicited for and received N10 million from a suspect standing trial before him.
He also said when the suspect who made the allegation was invited, he could not substantiate his claims as he claimed the telephones through which he received calls and text messages through which the CTC Chairman demanded for the bribe was lost, hence the call logs could not be retrieved.
He added that the current AGF/Minister of Justice had also exonerated him in December 2015 when the issue was referred to him.
“The application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed in its entirety,” Umar ruled.
In response, Oluyede said: “I have been listening to the Tribunal ruling and I am currently lost for words. I wish your tribunal well.”