I’ll appear before CCT today, says Senate President

Saraki told reporters at the National Assembly that he believes in the judicial system.

The Court of Appeal yesterday turned down Saraki’s appeal for a stay of execution of the ruling of the CCT, which ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest and produce him at the tribunal yesterday.

Saraki told reporters that based on legal advice and as a law abiding citizen, he will make himself available at the CCT.

The Senate President insisted that he had nothing to hide to prevent him from appearing before the CCT.

He said: “Well, I think with the ruling of the Appeal Court, I think that based on legal advice, they have exercised their right and being a law, abiding citizen too and the decision of CCT saying that one should be there tomorrow (today) I will be there.

“ I have nothing to hide. The CCT was exercising its own right both at the Federal High Court and at the Court of Appeal so we will be there.

“The most important thing is that I believe in the process and I will ensure that I will be there in the morning.”

Also a statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, entitled “Saraki: I will be at the Tribunal Tomorrow”, noted that Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal today.

It added: “While the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.

“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from the tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the Federal High Court Abuja.

“Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim.

“Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.

“Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter.”

Some Senators yesterday visited Saraki’s office in solidiarity with him.

They included Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwermadu and Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah.

Others are: Senators Mohammed Ohiare (Kogi Central), Binta Masi Garba (Adamawa North, Olaka Nwogu (Rivers South East) Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Theodore Orji (Abia Central), Hope Uzodinma (Imo West), Abubakar Abdulrahman (Kogi East), Kabiru Gaya ( Kano Central), Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South) and Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central).

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