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Tag: saraki

  • Saraki’s acquittal: FG to commence appeal process this week

    …to send CCT records to Appeal Court

    As parts of the preliminary process to challenge the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, ruling acquitting Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki of all charges brought against him, indications have emerge that the Federal Government is set to transmit to the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, over 3,000 pages of the records of the 21 months trial of the Saraki at the CCT.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the transmission of records of the trial to the Court of Appeal is a legal requirement for the Federal Government to validate its notice of appeal filed against the CCT’s judgment, which recently discharged and acquitted Saraki of all the 18 charges of false assets declaration.

    According to legal experts, the Court of Appeal only assigns an appeal number to a case after receiving the “records of appeal” transmitted to it from the lower court.

    The records transmission will set the stage for exchange of briefs between the parties involved in the case before a date for hearing of the appeal can be fixed by the Court of Appeal.

    Ahead of the records transmission, which would likely take place this week, it was learnt that the legal team of the Federal Government and Saraki’s lawyers had, last week, participated in a “settlement of records” exercise.

    During the records settlement exercise, the two parties agreed on the records of the trial before the CCT that would be sent to the Court of Appeal.

    Accoding to a report by The Punch, the document, which the appellant (the Federal Government) and the respondent (Saraki) settled on, were over 3,000 pages.

    The paper also gathered that neither of the parties is foreclosed from seeking additional documents to be transmitted along with the already settled documents.

    The record of the proceedings, which started in September 2015 and ended on June 14, 2016, when the Danladi Umar-led CCT dismissed the 18 counts preferred against Saraki, was said to have formed the bulk of the documents to be transferred to the Court of Appeal.

    The documents agreed upon by parties to the appeal for transmission to the Court of Appeal were said to include the application to prefer charge; the first (original) charge; the amended charge; and the further amended charge.

    The records also comprised Saraki’s motion on notice dated March 4, 2016, which sought the dismissal of the case on among other grounds that he was not invited to make a statement before he was charged.

    Also to be included in the file are, prosecution’s counter-affidavit to the said motion; the prosecution’s further counter-affidavit to the said motion; the defendant’s further affidavit to the motion and a copy of the CCT’s delivered on March 24, 2016 dismissing the motion, among others.

    It was also gathered taht the parties would return to the CCT within the week for the “compilation of records” during which they would both witness the sorting out of the various documents and include them in file to be transferred to the Court of Appeal.

    After the records compilation, the file would be sent for transmission to the Court of Appeal.

    The Head, Press and Public Relations of the CCT, Mr. Ibraheem Al-Hassan, confirmed that the records settlement took place last week.

    He also said he did not know the volume of the records to be transmitted, because he did not participate in the records settlement exercise.

    Al-Hassan said, “The parties involved in the case met last week to settle the records of appeal. I cannot confirm the documents that were agreed on.

    “I also do not know the volume because I did not participate in the exercise of settlement but the two parties have agreed on a date for the transmission of the records.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the CCT had on June 14 ruled that Saraki has no case to answer in the 18 charges of non-declaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government.

    But in a swift reaction, the federal government expressed shock and insisted it will appeal the ruling saying the judgement was unreasonable.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Saraki had since said he was “unperturbed” by the appeal filed by the federal government challenging his acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

  • Judgement against Sahara Reporters shows justice will always prevail – Saraki

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday commended the judgment of an Ilorin High Court that ruled that the publisher of the online news platform, Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, should pay him the sum of N4 billion ($11.1 Million) as damages over a series of libelous stories published against him by the medium in 2015.

    Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the judgment issued against Sahara Reporters for constantly publishing false, libelous and misleading stories that were aimed at defaming his person, was a testament that the moral arc of the universe will always bend towards justice.

    “One thing is clear by the judgement, there are systems in place in our nation for all citizens to seek redress if they have been unfairly treated in any way,” the statement read, “This judgement is a fulfillment of our promise that we will explore all legal means to seek redress for all the fabrications and mudslinging that Sahara Reporters has thrown at us over the years.

    “This judgement demonstrates that our justice system can and will continue to protect the fundamental human rights of all citizens from being infringed by anyone. Moving forward, the purveyors of mischievous stories can learn from this precedent that has been set. The ruling by Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye, will serve as a deterrent to all those who profit by propagating ‘Fake News’ to blackmail innocent citizens or curry undue favours.

    “This judgement is definitely not a victory for the Senate President alone. It is a victory for all the victims of the falsehood which Sahara Reporters daily dole out to rubbish the reputation of innocent Nigerians, many of whom either out of fear, lack of the patience to consistently pursue a court case for years or lack of belief in the ability of the system to give them justice decided to live with the injury to their reputation. The judgement is another vindication for our country and her solid enthronement of the rule of law as against the rule of men.

    “Dr Saraki believes this judgement would provide inspiration and encouragement for all those whose reputations have been unduly and unnecessarily injured by SaharaReporters and its ilk who are purveyors of false news to seek redress through the courts.

    “He sees the verdict of the High Court against Sahara Reporters as a positive development with the potential to reassure individuals and firms who would in future come under undeserved attack by publications which spread falsehood aimed at maliciously casting them in bad light.

    “The judgement provides a redeeming point for the noble profession of journalism which has as its sacred, cardinal principle the pursuit of facts at all times and in all situations.

    The journalists and news media who have devoted themselves to the pursuit of truth but appear to be overwhelmed by those who trade in falsehood and sensationalism now have a reason to be proud that they are on the right path. That is another meaning Dr. Saraki gives to this judgement.

    “However, the Senate President will like to assure all and sundry that he will not spare any legal efforts and expenses, both in Nigeria and abroad, necessary to recover every kobo of the cost awarded in his favour from the defendant.

    “The restitution from this judgement will be channeled to set up a Foundation whose aim will be to support pure and unadulterated investigative journalism and assist the families of real journalists that die in the line of duty. The money will also be used to support genuine publications whose owners are struggling to pay salaries of workers or meet their ever rising running cost.

    Part of the money will also be channelled to help lawyers who have been providing pro bono services to litigants, particularly, on cases bothering on enforcement of fundamental human rights.

    “It should be noted that the methodical and dogged manner in which Dr. Saraki pursued the case despite the ceaseless barrage of false allegations thrown at him by the Sahara Reporters should assure all Nigerians that he maintains a solid belief in free press, free speech and responsible journalism and that he will do every thing legal to fight those who want to use journalism as a destructive, blackmail and oppressive instrument . This latter brand of journalism will not help our society and has no role to play in the emerging Nigeria”, he stated.

  • Libel: Sahara Reporters to pay Saraki N4bn as damage, says court

    An Ilorin High Court, presided over by Justice Adeyinka Oyinloye, has ruled that the publisher of online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, should pay a sum of N4 billion as damage to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, over a series of libelous stories published the medium in 2015.

    According to the judgment passed on Wednesday, the ruling affected stories published by the online medium against Saraki between September and December 2015.

    The Senate President had, through his lawyer, Babatunde Olomu, asked for the intervention of the court following the publication of series of libelous stories against him by Sahara Reporters. Both Sowore and Sahara Reporters were joined as defendants in the suit marked as KWS/23/2017.

    Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, Olomu said that the defendants had refused to defend the case despite the service of the summons on them.

    He said the first series of service involved an arrangement between the office of the Nigerian ministry of Justice and their counterpart in New York, the operational base of the medium. When that failed, the counsel said the claimant thereafter seized the opportunities of a visit to Nigeria by Sowore to serve him at his two properties in Ikeja area of Lagos state.

    Delivering the judgment, the court agreed with Olomu and granted all the reliefs sought by the claimant in the case.

    The reliefs granted are as follows: “the sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of October 5, 2015 under the caption “Nigeria at 55: Bukola Saraki and 83 Inmates Are Running the Asylum”

    “The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of Sahara Reporters of September 20, 2015 under the caption: “A polished Name for political immorality. Time for Saraki to Go!”

    “The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of Sahara Reporters of November 09, 2015 under the caption: “Bukola Saraki On a shopping Spree to Buy Judges…Stop Being a Clown And A Coward Man Up, face The Music”

    “The sum of N1 billion as general and aggravated damages for libelous words falsely, maliciously and recklessly published by the defendants of and concerning the claimant in the online issue of Sahara Reporters of Sahara Reporters of December 1, 2015 under the caption: “Arms Contract Scandal: Senator Saraki Blackmailed CBN Officials To Pay N250 Million Hush Funds.”

    “An order for injunction restraining the defendants from further writing, printing or causing to be written, printed or circulated or otherwise published of the claimant the said, or similar libel.

    “An order directing the defendants to remove the offending publications from its website on the internet within three days from the date of judgment and an order directing the defendants to publish an apology to the claimant on its online newspaper and in three other daily newspapers.”

  • Appeal of CCT judgment: I am unperturbed, bring it on! Saraki dares FG, Sagay

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that he is “unperturbed” by the appeal filed by the federal government challenging his acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the CCT had on June 14 ruled that Saraki has no case to answer in the 18 charges of non-declaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government.

    But in a swift reaction, the federal government expressed shock and insisted it will appeal the ruling saying the judgement was unreasonable.

    However, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Mr. Saraki reiterated his earlier position that he remains unperturbed by the development.

    “Dr. Saraki is confident that the verdict at the appellate court would not be different from that of the tribunal as the facts of the case remain the same and the grounds on which the decision of the CCT was based remain unassailable.

    “Anybody who has been following the proceedings and the evidence given by the prosecution witnesses during examination in chief and cross-examination would know that if presented before any court of Justice and law, the same outcome as in the CCT would be arrived at.

    “Those who are running commentary on the ruling by the Tribunal and criticising it are those who are not even familiar with the case and the details coming out of the trial.

    “That is why Dr. Saraki continues to wonder how desperate some people in government and their collaborators outside have become to pull him down at all cost and by all means up to the point that they do not care if they destroy the institution of the judiciary in the process.

    “That is why they sponsored stories of allegation of bribery in an online publication against the Tribunal judges.

    “The Senate President seizes this opportunity to call on security agencies to immediately commence investigation on this bribery allegation.

    “This same desperation made a man like Prof. Itse Sagay, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC) to appear on tape admitting in a foreign country that he interfered with the process in the Tribunal when in an unethical manner he was instructing the judge on how to conduct the trial.

    “Corruption is not just about giving or diverting money. When an official interferes with the judicial process with a view to achieving personal objectives, that is corruption.

    “We hear the same desperate people say there was so much evidence they are surprised at the verdict of the tribunal. But they forget to mention that this was a case that the prosecution counsel amended charges thrice.

    “If as it is being portrayed to the public it was a straight forward case following investigation how come every time their case was dismantled during the process they went back to amend charges just in desperation to get a conviction?

    “The Senate President notes that another sign of desperation by those who want to get him convicted at all cost was the failed antics of the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacob who in collusion with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought to manipulate evidence at the tribunal.

    “On realising the fundamental flaw in its case as it did not invite the defendant to make any statement at any point in the investigation, the prosecution brought in an agent of the EFCC to tender old statements Saraki made in a totally different and unrelated matter that had nothing to do with false asset declaration. The prosecution forgot that the letter inviting Saraki to make the tendered statements explicitly mentioned the matter being investigated. However, the tribunal, as it is obvious in its ruling, saw through the dirty trick. It therefore disregarded that piece of evidence and described it as irrelevant and of no value to the case,” he said.

    Saraki noted that another sign of desperation is the involvement of the EFCC in a case that has to do with false declaration of asset and as such only concerns the Code of Conduct Bureau and its tribunal.

    He said that all evidences provided during the trial by CCT were all EFCC evidence adding that the CB chief prosecutor testified that he got his instruction to investigate the case orally.

    “He made his report from the investigation orally. Even the directive to ‘collaborate with EFCC’ on the investigation was given orally, a development the tribunal found strange and unknown to law. ‎

    “All these antics aimed at perverting the course of justice were obvious throughout the period of the tribunal’s sitting. Though, one is conscious of the fact that the anti- graft agency and its ally bodies are frantically looking for a poster-case to sell its anti-corruption campaign and there is the hunger for conviction in a celebrated case to advertise in the international arena government’s determination to pursue the anti-graft campaign, we implore them to achieve this aim by allowing Justice to take its normal course.

    “This Appeal against the CCT ruling is nothing but another attempt to grandstand and embark on another media trial without any substance. This is why the Senate President is sure it will be another exercise in futility.

    “Dr. Saraki has demonstrated his unflinching belief in and respect for the judicial process and its ability to resolve issues relating to fundamental rights of Nigerians. That belief in the judiciary is the basis for his assurance that the position of the CCT that he is not guilty of the charges preferred against him would be sustained in the higher courts,” his spokesperson said.

  • Corruption: Start receiving, treating petitions from public, Saraki orders committees

    The Nigerian Senate has expanded the responsibilities of its Committees to include taking petitions from members of the public on allegations of corrupt practices in any government establishment across the country.

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who stated this in his speech at the 11th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association – Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) in Lagos, said the decision was part of its anti-corruption policy aimed at eradicating the menace in the country.

    Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, also called on the NBA to partner with the National Assembly in using amendments of existing laws and introduction of new legislative proposals for the purposes of curbing corruption.

    The Senate President reiterated that the ongoing anti-corruption war could only succeed if it is devoid of politics even as he said the anti-graft bodies need more capacity building to enable them carry out thorough investigations.

    He said, “On the issue of corruption, while we have continued to pursue this issue using our oversight scheme, and for which there has been remarkable success, we however, think that unless we innovate and apply smart technology we will not go too far.

    “The 8th Senate is expanding its anti-corruption policy by empowering its committee to now receive corruption petitions. The National Assembly is also taking another look at the issue of expansive discretionary powers under our laws that may be contributing to make corruption fester. We would therefore want you to ponder on this and work with us to use law amendments and new legislative proposals to narrow corruption opportunities to the barest minimum.

    “Corruption is one area of our national life we cannot afford to play politics with. On the prosecution of cases, it is clear that there is a whole lot of more work to be done to ensure we succeed against corruption. The trend today with the cases we have seen play out indicates that a lot more work needs to be done to guarantee better outcome. From the prosecution culture to capacity there is a need for thorough investigations to take precedence over media sensationalism.

    “There may be need for better training and strategy building. Let me once again charge you as lawyers to help come up with your ideas on what legislative path we can take to help close the gap,” he said.

    He said that while the 8th Senate has surpassed previous sessions through the number of bills and legislative interventions, it has also fulfilled its major promise to open up the affairs of the National Assembly and publish its budget while also using new legislation to modernize the economy.

    “Our Vision going forward is that with the capital outlay and regulation it is expected that Nigeria will create 7.5 million jobs in the next five years owing solely to their infrastructure reforms, and to ensure a sound economy, our legal regime must be equally sound and provide an assuring platform for investors, entrepreneurs and businesses,” he added.

    The Senate President noted that the NBA has a great role to play in ensuring that the objectives of the laws passed by the National Assembly to aid the economic growth are realized.

    “It is upon you who work with these legal instruments and on whom the business community and the courts will rely on providing the right advisory that will see to the realization of the full potential of these laws when signed into law.

    As you deliberate on your conference theme, it will be good to see the NBA develop new legal culture that will help promote these new laws for effectiveness. We will like to see new tools for better commercial contract development and enforcement, conflict management, private property protection, judicial protection and security of enterprise,” he said.

    According to him, the NBA remains not just a stakeholder but one of the most critical voice of reason within the nation’s body polity, hence “the Senate has continued to seek out and engage you for advice and consultations on national issues.”

    He noted that the role the NBA plays in shaping public perception and the opportunity it offers as a vehicle for promoting good governance has continued to grow.

    “This is why when we opened up consultations and engagement with the private sector and the wider civil society on our legislative agenda which has been anchored on the economy, the NBA was one of our first port of call,” Saraki said.

  • Sagay, Malami disagree over FG’s appeal of Saraki’s acquittal

    Discordant views from the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, on review of the federal government’s strategy in combatting corruption following the unexpected triumph of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), highlight cracks in President
    Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.

    Saraki had in the last 21 months been facing trial over false declaration of assets, but the tribunal last Wednesday ruled that he had no case to answer in the 18-point charge brought against him by the federal government.

    Following Saraki’s acquittal, there had been rumble among top echelons of government since the judgement was delivered with some calling for appeal while others are of the view that status quo ante should be maintained.

    However, The Federal Government yesterday appealed the court ruling that acquitted the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of charges of corruption and false declaration of assets.

    The federal government through Rotimi Jacobs SAN and Pius Akutah, an assistant Chief State Counsel signed, filed eleven grounds of appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja to challenge the judgment of the CCT.

    However, from a very reliable source, TheNewsGuru.com gathered that a strategic meeting earlier conveyed by some of the frontline Buhari’s anti-corruption aides in order to review the federal government’s strategy in combatting corruption reportedly ended up on a dead end road.

    The meeting was attended by Malami, Sagay and another legal aide in the presidency, Mr. Okoi Obno-Obla.

    Recall that Prof. Itse Sagay had condemned the acquittal saying there was no basis for the position taken by the tribunal, even as he stressed that the prosecution presented enough evidence to secure a conviction..

    In the same vein, the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla, also maintained Sagay’s position that government would appeal the judgement.

    Meanwhile, whereas while the duo are drummed for the appeal of the tribunal’s verdict, Malami, has a contradictory view.

    Malami, it was gathered had disclosed that he would need the advise of President Muhammadu Buhari before a decision on whether to appeal the case or not.

    He also said that FG has not appealed such case in the past and preceedent is law, since there is no such precedence in such high profile case it will be difficult to start it with Saraki’s case.

    At the meeting Malami was quoted as saying, “it is a fruitless journey; we are not willing to embark on that. If we can’t review judgement against Tinubu, then we cannot review case against Saraki as that will appear as double standard”

    When contacted, an aide to the Senate President told TheNewsGuru.com that: “They can go ahead with the appeal but it is just an abuse of court process and we will come out victorious any day.”

    Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Abuja mentioned that a review of the judgement against Saraki will negatively affect the integrity of the APC.

    “If they can’t appeal the case against Tinubu, then why waste time appealing against Saraki. It is important that our party start thinking about its integrity or we will risk getting booted out in 2019.” The source added

  • Nigerians appreciate having Saraki as leader of 8th senate – Ashafa

    Senator representing Lagos East, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa said that Nigerians now appreciate the fact that the 8th senate is led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, whom he described has a man of clear vision.

    Ashafa made the statement during an interview published on the twitter handle of the Nigerian Senate: @NGRSenate, Sen. Ashafa said that there was an urgent need to combat drug abuse among youths.

    The interview which was conducted in commemoration of the 8th senate’s two years in office was recently made available to the public by Bamikole Omishore, Special Assistant to the President of the Senate on New Media.

    Ahsafa said, “Let me give you an insights into what the upper chamber represents now in the words of President of the senate – ‘It is the linking hope of the electorates, constituents and governance and this he [Saraki] has been able to demonstrate by the sense of urgency in the areas of what he has been able to build together as economic bills to save us’

    “This is the kind of senate we are running now, and Nigerians are coming to appreciate the importance of having a leader in the upper house that has clear vision as to where he is going and where he wants other senators to look at. I must commend the efforts of the senate president, he is like the headmaster in a school, if you far behind him, he looks for you and if you are in front he keeps pushing you to going forward.” He noted

    Also speaking of some of his notable contribution in the senate, Ashafa gladly mentioned the National Transport Commission Bill saying the bill will help to regulate operator & regulator of transport sector for benefit of Nigerians.

    He added, “The bill is very important, once you go through the first state of having a law that has separated the regulator from the operator, then we must have a regulating agency.For instance the bill that has just been passed [National Transport Commission Bill] what it has achieved is to have the Nigeria Railway Authority as the operator.

    “You can’t be the operator and be the regulator at the same time. The bill that has just been passed will make the Nigeria Railway Authority the operator, the regulator will now come, in terms of commission, just like we have in telecoms where Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, regulates the sector.” He said

    He conclyded that the commission will regulate the activities of the operators, particularly in the area of safety and economic operation so that end users won’t be billed out of propotion.

  • FG to appeal Saraki’s case on Wednesday

    The Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions, Okoi Obono-Obla, said on Saturday that the Federal Government is reportedly ready to appeal last Wednesday’s ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    The CCT had discharged and acquitted Saraki of 18 charges of false asset declaration and other related offences preferred against him.

    Obono-Obla, said that the government would file a notice of appeal against Saraki’s acquittal by Wednesday.

    The presidential aide, who works in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, argued that the two-man panel of the CCT led by Danladi Umar, misapplied the law by adopting the wrong standard of proof in exonerating Saraki.

    He said, “Definitely we are going to appeal against the ruling in Saraki’s case. One of our grounds of appeal is that the tribunal misapplied the law. For instance, the standard of proof that the tribunal used is not applicable to charges of false declaration of asset.

    “It (charge of false asset declaration) is a strict liability offence, so you cannot apply the standard of proof that is applied in the regular criminal proceedings.

    “Surely, we will file the appeal next (this) week Wednesday.”

  • EFCC denies prosecuting Saraki, disowns Rotimi Jacobs

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said that it was not prosecuting the President of the Senate Bukola Saraki in the recently concluded false declaration of assets case.

    In a series of tweets on its Twitter handle @officialEFCC, the anti-corruption agency made it clear to Nigerians that it was not the prosecutor at the Code of Conduct Tribunal trial.

    The EFCC also disowned counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, saying that he is an independent anti-corruption lawyer to the state and could be counsel to any organisation.

    During the two-year-trial of Saraki, Rotimi Jacobs was always referred to as counsel for the EFCC, but the EFCC clarifies that he is not attached to the commission.

     

  • Saraki’s Trial: Legislator tasks EFCC on thorough investigation of cases

    A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Babajimi Benson (Lagos-APC), has urged anti-graft agencies in the country to apply more diligence in investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, Benson said that there was need for anti-corruption agencies to be meticulous to avoid waste of public funds.

    The call stemmed from the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish a case against President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, over alleged false declaration of assets.

    The lawmaker condemned media trials against accused persons, and advised the EFCC to always prepare its witnesses before proceeding on any prosecution.

    “People should not be tried on the pages of newspaper; a case is as good as its preparation.

    “You need to prepare, you need to speak to lawyers and you need to tutor your witnesses appropriately so that when they speak or are cross examined in the dock, their statements should be good enough to cause a conviction,’’ he said.

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja on Wednesday discharged and acquitted Saraki in the 18-count charge of false declaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government in September, 2015.

    The tribunal held that the evidence brought against Saraki lacked verifiable value and was unreliable to hold the charges against the defendant.

    In his ruling, Chairman of the tribunal, Mr Danladi Umar, said that the prosecution, at the close of the case, failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.

    Umar said that the four witnesses called by the prosecution gave contradictory evidence that were manifestly unreliable to convict the defendant or order him to enter his defence.