Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that the ruling by the Court of Appeal today, Tuesday, declaring him innocent of the 15 out of the 18 count charges brought against him on the alleged false declaration of assets is not consistent with the submissions made by both parties at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Reacting to the court of Appeal’s judgment, Saraki said: “I remain convinced about my innocence on the three (or two) counts because I believe the decision of the Court of Appeal is not consistent with the submissions made by both parties at the Tribunal. Thus, it is my view that that aspect of the judgment will not stand.”
Saraki who said however that his confidence and faith in the nation’s judiciary and its ability to dispense justice to all manners of people remains unshaken, said that very soon his lawyers will review the grounds of the decision of the court of Appeal’s judgment and take appropriate action.
The statement which was issued by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, quoted Senator Saraki as saying that the totality of the court’s ruling had further proves his innocence.
“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, 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 Mr. 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.
“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.”[myad]
