Senate President Bukola Saraki has arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where he is in trial for alleged false declaration of assets continues.
He arrived in company of numerous senators at 9:45am. At least 35 of them were seated in six long seats on the left side of the courtroom.
When Saraki was at the tribunal on October 21, he came with 81 senators.
Some of the senators were Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president (PDP); Sam Anyanwu (PDP), Andy Uba (PDP), Adamu Aleiro (APC), Shehu Sani (APC), Dino Melaye (APC), Tayo Alasoadura (APC), Kabiru Gaya (APC) and Uche Ekwunife (PDP).
Saraki was in court for the first time on September 22, after an order for his arrest by the CCT. He pleaded not guilty to 13-count charges of false declaration of assets, and said he was on trial because of his emergence as senate president against the wish of certain people.
Although, he came to the tribunal voluntarily, he had sought to stop his trial at the high court, but failed. On October 30, the appeal court also dismissed Saraki’s application to stop his trial at the CCT for lack of merit.
Consequently, he appealed to the supreme court to set aside the judgment of the appeal court. The case is yet to come up for hearing at the apex court. This is his third appearance at the CCT.
At his second appearance on October 21, the tribunal adjourned his trial on the grounds that there was a pending judgment at the court of appeal.