Retired Justice of Supreme Court Rules That Saraki’s Trial is Political.

  Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki acknowledging his supporters at the CCT

Speaking on the “Code of conduct enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria and its crucial importance in the fight against corruption”, Justice Uwaifo berated the trial of Saraki by the CCT, describing it as political.
 
He said: “It is now open secret that the power behind the ruling APC did not back him (Saraki) for that office. It is fair to see a connection between that circumstance and the code of conduct matter.

  The chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar Yakubu
There is the rumour that the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal has an alleged crime hanging over him, which might give the impression that he may be willing to act as the hatchet-man over Saraki to save himself the prospect of the alleged crime not seeing the light of day by way of prosecution.
“Looking at the treatment Saraki has received so far in the tribunal presided over by the said Chairman who might, or is deemed to, know that there is the Sword of Damocles hanging over him, would the ordinary, right-minded persons aware of the situation have the impression that there was a real likelihood of bias on his part to deny Saraki justice? “
He condemned the docking of Saraki by the tribunal as if he was a criminal. He added that the criminal charge against the tribunal chairman which is not being prosecuted now, may propel him to be hard on Saraki in the hope that he would be finally spared.
 “The tendency to get the Code of Conduct Tribunal and probably similar bodies to intrude into the administration of criminal justice is not a welcome development. It is indeed a challenge to our constitutional democracy which puts the liberty of individuals at risk. It is also a challenge to the foresight of anyone who fails to appreciate this dire consequence”, he declared.

  
Justice Samson Uwaifo is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

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