False Assets Declaration: Saraki Insists Justice Umar Lacks Moral To Preside Over CCT

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, April 27th, 2016

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen

ABUJA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Senate President, Bukola Saraki has insisted that Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar lacks moral to occupy his position and preside over his trial, bothering on the alleged false assets declaration.

The accused, through a member of his Counsel team, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede filed the same motion last week, which provoked heated argument and resulted in Justice Umar walking out the Lawyer out of the court room, signified to file the motion Wednesday, as he argued, the CCT Chairman still have alleged corruption case against him with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Saraki’s Counsel who the prosecution Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) pleaded that his motion be admitted, for it to be argued, hinged the new application on Section 36(1) of the Constitution which he stated, bothers on the issues relating to bias and the rules of natural justice.

It would be recalled Mr. Jacobs opposed the contentious application last week, arguing that Oluyede was strange to the accused Counsel team. But after the drama, Saraki leading Counsel and former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) faulted Jacobs’s position, saying the applicant (Oluyede) was known to him and his team.

Oluyede after reading the application called the attention of the Court to a correspondence dated February, 2015 written by the EFCC to the former AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adokie on the alleged corrupt case against Justice Umar.

The letter in question allegedly followed a petition dated 2014, sent to the anti-graft body, allegedly by one retired Customs officer, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, who claimed to have been asked by Justice Umar to offer him a ₦10 million bribe.

Justice Danladi has denied collecting bribe, but admitted certain amount was paid into the account of his Personal Assistant.