The beleaguered Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who mounted the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, yesterday has revealed the root cause of his trial.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
The embatled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was on Tuesday, September 22 arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge of alleged false assets declaration leveled against him by the Federal Government.
Prosecution team, led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had briefed the tribunal on how the accused, while in office as the governor of Kwara State, filled four different assets declaration forms with the first one in 2003 and the second in 2007.
The National Assembly leader, however said he is being tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal because he is the Senate President.
In a personal statement he signed yesterday September 22nd, Saraki said: "I reiterate my belief that the only reason while I am going through this trial is because I am senate president. If I were to be just a senator, I doubt if anybody will be interested in the asset declaration form I filled over twelve years ago".
“I am one of the strongest believers in the rule of law. I am a law abiding citizen and my faith in the judiciary remains unshaken but when trial is being instigated outside the purview of normal procedure, then the tribunal must watch it and must be on the side of justice,” Saraki said.