Judge returns Saraki’s trial file, wants case reassigned

A Federal High Court Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, has sent the case file of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the Chief Judge for reassignment in Abuja .

Justice Mohammed on Wednesday, said that the action was as a result of “negative reports” from online media that he granted an order restraining the Code of Conduct Tribunal from hearing the matter and that he has been compromised by the plaintiff, Senator Saraki, allegations he said are bound to put any judgement on the matter to question..The Federal High Court in its rulings last week, held that the respondents, Code of Conduct Bureau be put on notice of the ex-parte applications brought by the Senate President seeking to stop his arrest by the police and stay proceedings before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false assets declaration.

‎It will also be recalled that the hearing of the appeal filed by the Senate President over alleged false assets declaration at the Court of Appeal was stalled on Tuesday.

The proceedings were stalled following the death of the Presiding Judge of Abuja division, Justice Abdulkadir Jega and Justice Musa Hassan Alkali of the Ilorin division both of the Court of Appeal who were victims of the stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Saraki is facing a 13-count charge of alleged corruption and false declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. He denies any wrongdoing and says the case was instigated by those angry he became the Senate president.