How Saraki forces senators to attend his trial at CCT

Information emerged on Thursday that senators who attend the trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Bureau do not do so out of their volition.

It was learnt that Saraki provides the buses to take the senators to the CCT office in Abuja and so informs them so they could make themselves available.

A senator on Thursday made available one of such text messages to the media.

He said though there were usually no threats attached to the text messages, the fact that it was sent and the vehicles provided showed that “we must attend the trial”.

He said if they were to attend of their own volition, there was no need to provide the buses to transport them there as those willing to go could do so on their own.

He said the chairmanship of the committees, made public by Saraki on Thursday, reflected those he believed were loyal to him.

The text message to attend Thursday’s sitting of the trial of Saraki by the senators was sent out by the Senate president’s Special Adviser on Protocol, who simply identified himself as Arthur.

The text message reads: “Gdevenin Distinguished. Wish to inform dt Buses are available 2moro mrnin to convey Senators to accompany H/E d Senate President departure is at 9.am from D house @ 22 Yesderam Str. By IGP house‎ maitama. Rgrds- Arthur( dir. Of Prot. S/P) +234807790119.”

Saraki is appearing before the Tribunal on Thursday and Friday in continuation of his trial by the CCT.