Judge withdraws from Saraki’s case over N2bn bribery allegation

A new twist was Tuesday added to the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, as a Federal High Court judge handling a suit seeking to stop the trial, Justice Abdul Kafarati, has disqualified himself from the suit.

The judge took the decision over allegation that N2 billion bribe was traced to his bank account.

Justice Kafarati was billed to give judgement in the case on Tuesday but insisted he was left with no option than to hands-off the matter.

According to him, he took the decision after his attention was drawn to two online publications alleging that he has been compromised by the Senate President. ‎

Speaking further, the judge said his integrity has been called to question in the reports carried by online news platforms (not Ripples) claiming that the Economic and financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, traced the money to his account.

Read also: Exclusive… AGF, EFCC boss head to Dubai to recover $200b loot

“The two publications made allegations against my person, alleging that I have been compromised with N2 billion. They also alleged that I am known in the legal cycle for being susceptible to corruption.

“What this has done is to put my integrity to question. I however regard the publishers as people of unsound mind. They know that what they said is not true. They just derive ‎pleasure when they malign the integrity of a judicial office.

“It is unfortunate that we don’t have the appropriate laws to take care of this. As it stands, I am caught between two devils, if the ‎judgment goes in favour of Saraki now they will say that I have been compromised, on the other hand, if it goes against him they will say I have been intimidated.

“In light of the allegation, the right and appropriate thing to do is to disqualify myself and return the case-file to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another Judge”, Justice Kafarati held.

The development however pitched Saraki’s counsel Dr. Kayode Oluyode against the EFCC lawyer, Adebisi Adeniyi, when he accused the EFCC as the brain behind the publication.

“Your Lordship has taken the right steps. It is however unfortunate that the applicant is the one to suffer. It is equally bad that the EFCC has gone to this level. We know that it is behind the publications”, Oluyode insisted. ‎

 

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