Again, Court Dismisses Saraki’s Application to Halt CCT Trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja has said that the case of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is an abuse of court process.Saraki had challenged his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as a breach of his fundamental human right. In his judgment on Friday, Justice Abdulkadiri Kafarati, said that the fear expressed by Saraki that he would not get justice at the CCT was speculative, misplaced and had no place in law. The judge based his decision on the preliminary objection of the Federal Government against Saraki’s suit. He agreed that it was too early for Saraki to have brought the issue of fundamental rights to fair trial when the tribunal had not concluded its findings on the falsification of assets charges brought against him. Kafarati also held that the applicant was wrong in raising the issue of fundamental rights to seek nullification of trial when in the real sense his case did not fall within Chapter 4 of 1999 Constitution. According to the judge, the CCT is a competent tribunal which derives its powers from the CCT Act and it has the powers to try criminal matters. He said that the prayer four which the plaintiff said was politically motivated was sentimental, adding that sentiments had no basis in law.