The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said he is set for trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal despite advice by his lawyers to ask for a stay of proceedings.
The advice of the lawyers was based on a pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
But Saraki, in a series of tweets on his Twitter handle on Monday night, said he will appear before the CCT on Tuesday morning (today) and ask that his trial on a three count charge as ordered by the Court of Appeal proceeds immediately.
He said his desire is to see the trial over as soon as possible.
He tweeted: “Tomorrow morning, I will be at the CCT in respect of 3 of the 18-count charges for which I have previously been cleared by the same Tribunal. This is following the verdict of the Court of Appeal that ordered that we should go and open our defence on 3 of the counts.
“As a lawmaker and a law-abiding citizen in a nation governed by the rule of law, as opposed to the rule of men, I choose to appear before the Tribunal tomorrow — despite having a pending appeal before the Supreme Court on the same matter.
“My lawyers actually advised that we should apply for a stay of the CCT proceedings pending the determination of the Appeal that we earlier filed before the Supreme Court. But I have a different opinion.
“I feel that despite the pending appeal before the apex Court, I should and will put up my defence as regards the 3 counts. I am convinced of my innocence on these counts and confident consequently of a favourable decision of the Tribunal on them. This has always been my position.
“My greatest interest has always been to clear my name as soon as possible and it is my hope that justice would be expeditiously served by the Tribunal.”
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