Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday withdrew from a suit seeking to stop the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). His withdrawal was hinged on the allegation that N2 billion bribe was traced to his bank account.
The matter, which was earlier fixed for judgement, could not go ahead as the trial judge said he was left with no option than to hands off the matter after his attention was drawn to two online publications alleging that he has been compromised by the Senate President. Justice Kafarati, however, lamented that his integrity was gravely maligned in two separate reports carried by Sahara Reporters and Naij.com, which, he said, claimed that the N2 billion was traced to his account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His words: “The two publications made allegations against my person, alleging that I have been compromised with N2 billion. They also alleged that I am known in the legal circle for being susceptible to corruption. “What this has done is to put my integrity to question. I, however, regard the publishers as people of unsound mind.
They know that what they said is not true. They just derive pleasure when they malign the integrity of a judicial office. “It is unfortunate that we don’t have the appropriate laws to take care of this. As it stands, I am caught between two devils, if the judgement goes in favour of Saraki now, they will say that I have been compromised, on the other hand, if it goes against him, they will say I have been intimidated.
“In light of the allegation, the right and appropriate thing to do is to disqualify myself and return the case file to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge.” Responding to Justice Kafarati’s position, Saraki’s counsel, Dr. Kayode Oluyode said the EFCC was the brain behind the publications. “Your Lordship has taken the right steps. It is, however, unfortunate that the applicant is the one to suffer. It is equally bad that the EFCC has gone to this level.
We know that it (EFCC) is behind the publications,” Oluyode insisted. However, counsel to the EFCC, Adebisi Adeniyi, stated that it was improper for Oluyode to make such spurious allegation without proof. New Telegraph recalls that Saraki had approached the high court, praying it to declare that the chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, is not fit to preside over the assets declaration suit filed against him by the Federal Government.
He premised his suit on the ground that Umar is still being investigated by the EFCC over allegations bordering on corruption. Cited as respondents in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase. Others were the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the CCT, its chairman, Mr. Umar, the second member of the CCT panel, Mr. Ataedzeagu Adza; CCB chairman, Mr. Sam Saba; Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Diri; and a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Muslim Hassan (now a judge of the Federal High Court).
