The Code of Conduct Tribunal has ordered for Senator Bukola Saraki to be arrested. The bench warrant was issued at the resumption of hearing of the case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Friday, after the Senate President failed to show up before it.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
In a ruling this afternoon, Friday, September 18, the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja, has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and other relevant security agencies in the country to arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Justice Danladi Umar who headed the tribunal issued a bench warrant against Saraki following his refusal to appear in court to face a 13-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
According to Vanguard, Federal Government had through a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, M.S. Hassan, asked the tribunal to order Saraki’s arrest.
Saraki who was billed for arraignment this morning, sent his team of lawyers to serve the tribunal with a copy of the ruling of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, which summoned the Ministry of Justice to appear on Monday to show cause why the trial should be allowed to proceed.
Irked by Saraki’s absence at the tribunal for the commencement of his prosecution over alleged false declaration of assets, the Ministry of Justice prayed the Justice Umar-led panel to order for his arrest, saying 'he cannot sit in the comfort of his chamber and object to his trial in absentia'.
Meanwhile, Saraki has through his lawyer, begged the tribunal to consider his position as the Senate President and stay the execution of the arrest warrant, saying he would be available for trial on Monday.