Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for the resignation of Senate President Bukola Saraki, stressing that the resignation is pertinent as to save the face of Nigeria’s legislature.
Making the call on Saturday, February 6, Falana asked the Senate President to resign his position in order to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly.
Punch reports that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court would add value to the battle against corruption.
Citing an instance involving a former Senate President, the late Chuba Okadigbo, Falana asked Saraki to resign having undertaken to prove his innocence before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
“Having undertaken to prove his innocence at the Code of Conduct Trubunal Senator Saraki should resign as senate president so as to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly.
“When Senators Chuba Okadigbo and Adolphus Wabara were indicted they were made to step down as senate presidents,” Falana stressed.
The Supreme Court had on Friday dismissed the appeal by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, challenging the validity of his trial on charges of assets declaration preferred against him at the CCT.
A seven-man panel of the apex court presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously ruled that Saraki’s appeal against the jurisdiction of the trial and competence of the charges lacked merit.
Justice Wallter Onnoghen, who read the lead judgment, held that contrary to Saraki’s contention, the Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal was validly constituted by two members.
Justice Onnoghen also held that the tribunal was by the provisions of its enabling laws and the Constitution conferred with the quasi-criminal jurisdiction and thus could validly issue bench warrant.
He thus held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was applicable to the proceedings of the tribunal.
Saraki, who said the Supreme Court judgment was disappointing, however, said he would have his day in court and that “at the end of the day, truth will prevail and justice will be served.”
Meanwhile, the senate is divided over calls for the resignation of Senator Saraki. Senators opposed to the Senate President under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum, had regrouped to force Saraki out of the seat.
The Unity Forum, a caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) which opposed the emergence of Saraki as the Senate president, said Saraki should resign “before he is disgraced out”. Stressing that Saraki’s resignation will save the image of the National Assembly and salvage national pride.
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