Senator Bukola Saraki
Less than one month after recusing himself from the case, Justice
Abdukadir Abdu-Kafarati of the Federal High Court in Abuja will today,
give his ruling on a legal effort by embattled Senate President, Bukola
Saraki to scuttle his trial for corruption before the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT).
It was reported that the senate president submitted a legal
application to the Federal High Court claiming that the Code of Conduct
Tribunal (CCT), where he is on trial for corruption and false assets
declaration, had violated his fundamental human rights.
Earlier, Justice Kafarati had recused himself from the case
following an expose by SaharaReporters revealing the judge's reputation
for being compromised by wealthy or politically connected clients.
According to SaharaReporters, Saraki’s lawyer on his human rights
application, Prince Ajibola Oluyede, has had a long relationship with
Justice Kafarati. Several lawyers told SaharaReporters that Oluyede, who
also defended wanted drug baron and Nigerian senator, Buruji Kashamu,
was known for compromising Justice Kafarati on numerous legal cases on
the judge's docket.
SaharaReporters also revealed that agents of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have discovered no less than N2
billion in Justice Kafarati’s bank accounts. The judge told EFCC
operatives that the vast amount of money were proceeds from his farming
enterprises.
It can be recalled that news of Saraki’s legal application in the
Federal High Court in Abuja caught members of the public by surprise
since the substantive matter of the application that the CCT was
violating his human rights because the tribunal allegedly has no
jurisdiction to try him, was already considered by the Supreme Court of
Nigeria. On February 5, 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that the CCT has
the competence to try Saraki for corruption.
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