BREAKING: Saraki loses as Appeal Court clears way for corruption trial

The struggling Senate President, Bukola Saraki has received a better judgment from the Court of Appeal in Abuja seeking to quash corruption charges brought by the Code of Conduct Bureau against him.

The appeal court ruled Friday, upholding the authority of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to try Mr. Saraki.

Mr. Saraki who is currently facing a 13-count charge of alleged false declaration of assets and corruption.

He denies the charges.

Mr. Saraki had challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal and had asked the Court of Appeal to nullify the trial which is set to begin in November.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the “The CCT is a court of criminal jurisdiction, albeit limited jurisdiction”.

It added: “There is no inherent difference between a court and a tribunal. The only difference is that tribunals in most cases handle special cases”.

The three-member panel of judges, led by Moore Adumein, also affirmed that the tribunal was properly constituted- another kernel of Mr. Saraki’s suit.

More to come.