The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the appeal of Senate President Bukola Saraki and ruled that he has no case to answer before the Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT).
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, the apex court discharged him of the remaining three counts against him in the case of false declaration of assets.
Umar Danladi-led CCT had in June 2017, terminated the trial and dismissed the entire 18 counts charges preferred against Saraki.
The CCT’s decision was based on the grounds that the prosecution, with its four witnesses and 49 exhibits tendered, only led hearsay evidence which could not be used to connect the Senate President to the 18 counts preferred against him.
But, the Court of Appeal in Abuja on December 12, 2017 while ruling on an appeal filed by the Federal Government contesting CCT’s decision, restored three out of the dismissed 18 counts and ordered Saraki to return to the CCT to defend the three charges.
Against this backdrop, Saraki appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court.
However, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad in a unanimously ruling dismissed the remnant three counts, declaring the evidence led by the prosecution as hearsay.
In its lead judgment, Nweze upheld Saraki’s appeal and dismissed the Federal Government’s appeal.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, the apex court discharged him of the remaining three counts against him in the case of false declaration of assets.
Umar Danladi-led CCT had in June 2017, terminated the trial and dismissed the entire 18 counts charges preferred against Saraki.
The CCT’s decision was based on the grounds that the prosecution, with its four witnesses and 49 exhibits tendered, only led hearsay evidence which could not be used to connect the Senate President to the 18 counts preferred against him.
But, the Court of Appeal in Abuja on December 12, 2017 while ruling on an appeal filed by the Federal Government contesting CCT’s decision, restored three out of the dismissed 18 counts and ordered Saraki to return to the CCT to defend the three charges.
However, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad in a unanimously ruling dismissed the remnant three counts, declaring the evidence led by the prosecution as hearsay.
In its lead judgment, Nweze upheld Saraki’s appeal and dismissed the Federal Government’s appeal.
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