The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has declared that he will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal tomorrow, Tuesday 22 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.
Saraki, on his Facebook Wall today, assured 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.
The Senate President had earlier said that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, even as he 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.
He made it clear that he is a law abiding citizen, explaining again that his absence from tribunal last week was based on legal advice he received from his counsel, that it was 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 were being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.
According to him, despite 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, he has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim.
Earlier today, the Court of Appeal has stopped the Police from implementing the warrant of arrest issued against Senator Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Tribunal had on Friday issued the order for Saraki’s arrest for failing to honour its invitation.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, had directed the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to effect the arrest of Saraki and produce him before the Tribunal on Monday (today).
As at Sunday, the police said it was yet to receive official communication from the Tribunal for Saraki’s arrest. [myad]
