The Federal Ministry of Justice has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
This warrant comes with respect to the case filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the Code of Conduct Tribunal against Saraki over allegations false declaration of assets.
Saraki was supposed to appear before at the tribunal today, Friday, September 18, 2015 for his arraignment. However, his team of lawyers appeared before the tribunal with a copy of a ruling by a Federal judge summoning the Ministry of Justice to appear before the court to show cause why the trial should be allowed to continue. The ruling was issued by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday.
Justice Mohammed also summoned the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, chairman of Conduct Bureau, Sam Saba, and Mr. Hassan who signed the charge sheet against Saraki.
A deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M. S. Hassan applied for the arrest order after he reportedly expressed anger at the absence of Saraki at today’s proceedings.
According to the prosecuting officers, the federal court lacked the powers to summon the chairmen of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“Saraki is engaging in ‘forum shopping’ in a desperate bid to scuttle his trial before the tribunal,” a prosecuting said.
