Saraki’s trial: Senate under fire for inviting CCT chair
Judge rejects plea for adjournment
Senators were yesterday under attack for summoning the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Danladi Umar, who is presiding at Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial for alleged falsification of assets.
yesterday the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition on Monday summoned Justice Umar to appear before it tomorrow in respect of an allegation of corruption levelled against him.
The invitation, coming on a day the judge ruled that Saraki’s trial should run daily, appeared a new twist to the matter.
The CCT chair immediately wrote the panel that he will not be available because he has a matter he is handling.
To some senior lawyers, the senators were wrong to have invited His Lordship.
Professor of law Fidelis Oditah (SAN, QC), rights activist Femi Falana (SAN), Norrison Quaker (SAN) and law teacher Wahab Shittu, in separate interviews, said the invitation of the CCT chair, apart from raising suspicion, was illegal and uncalled for.
But Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) expressed a divergent view.
In Oditah’s view, the Senate does not have the powers to invite Justice Umar over allegations of corruption, thereby preventing him from performing his duties.
“ They don’t have such powers. Are they a court of law themselves?” he asked.
According to him, the Senate’s oversight functions include monitoring of how monies appropriated to agencies are spent, not to invite anyone over a corruption allegation like an anti-graft agency.
He said Justice Umar’s invitation when the Senate President is undergoing trial before him is suspect
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