The earlier claim of Senate President Bukola Saraki that the Code of Conduct Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, was not qualified to hear his case on account of financial wrongdoing has been established on the ground of the recent criminal charges filed against him by the EFCC.
Saraki, however, sympathized with Umar on account of the criminal charges already filed against him in less than four days to the resumption of his trial before the CCT boss.
Lawyers of the Senate President had in April 2016 asked the CCT chairman, Umar, to excuse himself from the case before him. But it was surprising then that the CCT chairman was swiftly cleared of any wrongdoing by the EFCC.
It is now rather amusing that the same anti-graft agency that had earlier cleared Umar of any wrongdoing has made a volte face by filling criminal charges against him less than four days to the commencement of Saraki’s trial. The big question is what has suddenly changed in the investigative records of EFCC from April 2016 to now.
It has also been observed that despite efforts to make Nigerians believe that Saraki’s trial is only genuinely bordering on asset declaration irregularities, the unveiling maneuvers, manipulation, intrigues, schemes, and “house of cards” nature of the entire case are proving otherwise.
In fact, there should be serious cause for worry by all genuine lovers and supporters of the APC led government on the extent of image damage this judicial drama has done to the so called war against corruption.
The fact that the trial of Dr. Saraki is political is not in any way in doubt. His offence is truly not asset declaration irregularities, but the fact that he emerged the Senate President against the wish of some political heavy weights.
It must also be noted that the EFCC as an agency has only made itself a willing tool for the same politicians that are not only determined to smear the good image of Bukola Saraki, but to also dampen his spirit. Another target of the persecution scheme is also to undermine the independence of the Senate by cowing Saraki to submission through the assistance of both the EFCC and the judiciary.
However, the conduct of Saraki since the commencement of his trial in 2015, notwithstanding the glaring political persecution, has glowingly portrayed him in the light of someone with utmost and firm confidence in the nation’s judiciary and its ability to do justice in all cases.
Lekan Mohammed,
Ilorin, [email protected]
