The appeal filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki to stop his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has failed at the Supreme Court.
A six-man panel of the apex court on Friday dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
“I find no merit in the appeal, it is hereby dismissed,” Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen ruled on Friday.
The court held that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over the Senate President’s trial.
The Senate President had in October 2015 approached Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja asking it to quash his trial at the CCT on the ground that the CCT was not properly constituted, but the court dismissed the case.
The court held that “the CCT is a court of criminal jurisdiction,albeit limited jurisdiction.”
Meanwhile, the Senate President has expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President said, however, that the was ready to prove his innocence in the charges preferred against him by the CCT during a proper trial.
“The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper.
“He however will like to put it on record that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial.
“Dr. Saraki will like to thank everyone who has expressed support for him from the beginning of the case. He assures everyone that at the end of the day truth will prevail and justice will be served,” the statement said.
