The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has insisted that he has no case to answer on 15 of the 18 charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Monday, Mr Saraki noted that the verdict of the Court of Appeal today, vindicates his innocence.
His reaction comes few hours after the Appeal Court ordered the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to conduct a retrial of the Senate President on three out of the 18-count amended charges on false declaration of assets.
The statement read in part: “We noted the verdict of the Court of Appeal Court today in which it agreed with the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has no case to answer on 15 of the 18 charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
“We believe that upholding the no case submission by Dr. Saraki with regards to 15 of the 18 counts charges vindicates the innocence of the Senate President. At least, today’s judgement has confirmed the position of the Tribunal that the prosecution’s case was entirely based on hearsay, not on any concrete evidence.”
Also according to statement, the Court of Appeal verdict makes the claims of the Federal Government over alleged operation of foreign accounts and false declaration of assets among other things, fall like a pack of cards.
Speaking of the three remaining charges, the office of the Senate president noted that it has strong faith in the ability of the judiciary to dispense justice. It also reaffirmed its unshaken believe in the innocence of the Senate President over the charges.
“The verdict of the Court of Appeal, just like that of the Tribunal before it, aligned with our position that the preposterous claims made during trial by the prosecution concerning operation of foreign accounts, making anticipatory declarations, collecting double salaries, owning assets beyond his income and failure to declare assets owned by companies in which the Senate President owns interests, among others, have fallen like a pack of cards and lack any basis.
“On the remaining three counts, which really touch on two issues, referred back to the Tribunal for the Senate President’s defence, it should be noted that the Appellate Court only gave a summary of its decision today promising to provide the parties with Certified True Copies of the Judgment soon. As soon as it makes the details of the judgement available, our lawyers will review the grounds of the decision and take appropriate action.
“We remain convinced about the innocence of the Senate President on the three ( or two) counts because we believe the decision of the Court of Appeal is not consistent with the submissions made by both parties at the Tribunal.
“Thus, it is our view that that aspect of the judgment will not stand,” the statement read.
