Politics
Judge backs out from Saraki’s trial
Senate president, Olusola Saraki, may still be facing ‘a long walk to freedom’ as the High Court judge who granted an order to halt his trial over alleged corruption has withdrawn from the case.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court excused himself from the case on Wednesday and transferred the matter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed for reassignment over what he described as “negative reports”.
Saraki is facing a 13-count charge of alleged corruption and false declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Read also: Saraki: Handle with caution, Dogara tells FG
He denied the allegation claiming that he was being persecuted by forces outside the Senate because he is the Senate President.
When the of Conduct Bureau filed the charges against him two weeks ago, Saraki approached a high court to block the trial.
Justice Mohammed summoned the chairman of Code of Conduct Bureau and officials of the Ministry of Justice to explain why they should go ahead with the case.
The judge’s injunction was rejected by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which argued that the two courts were of coordinate jurisdiction.
Saraki later appeared before the tribunal after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, and asked him to face trial.
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