The President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, will today (Tuesday) be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, an agency of the Nigerian Government. Saraki is facing an abridged three-count charge which derived from the original 18-count charge preferred against him for false assets declaration.
In a Facebook post confirming his arraignment, Saraki said he decided to present himself for trial against his lawyers’ advice. He said he could have stayed the proceeding pending the determination of his appeal before the Supreme Court.
His Full Statement:
Tomorrow morning, I will be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in respect of 3 of the 18-count charges for which I have previously been cleared by the same Tribunal. This is following the verdict of the Court of Appeal which ordered that we should go and open our defence on 3 of the counts.
As a lawmaker and a law-abiding citizen in a nation governed by the rule of law, as opposed to the rule of men, I choose to appear before the Tribunal tomorrow — despite having a pending appeal before the Supreme Court on the same matter.
My lawyers actually advised that we should apply for a stay of the CCT proceedings pending the determination of the Appeal that we earlier filed before the Supreme Court. But I have a different opinion. I feel that despite the pending appeal before the apex Court, I should and will put up my defence as regards the 3 counts. I am convinced of my innocence on these counts and confident consequently of a favourable decision of the Tribunal on them. This has always been my position from Day 1.
My greatest interest has always been to clear my name as soon as possible and it is my hope that justice will be expeditiously served by the Tribunal.
-Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (CON)
President of the Senate
 be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, an agency of the Nigerian Government. Saraki is facing an abridged three-count charge which derived from the original 18-count charge preferred against him for false assets declaration.){kind=link}