Embattled President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, today failed to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal claiming through his lawyers that he had filed an appeal against the warrant of arrest issued against him by the tribunal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Mr. Saraki’s counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, labored before the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal , Danladi Yakubu Umar, claiming that since his client had filed an appeal, the lead judge should tarry in getting him to appear before the tribunal by the force of bench warrant.
However, the chair of the tribunal argued that the filing of an appeal could not constitute a stay of execution of his initial order to have the Inspector General of Police arrest Mr. Saraki and bring him before the tribunal.
After a prolonged argument and upon seeing that the tribunal chair would not budge, Mr. Daudu raised another ground of objection relating to the quorum of the tribunal. He told the tribunal chairperson that the Tribunal was not properly constituted since the law provides that the tribunal must have all its three members present during proceedings.
After responding to Mr. Daudu that the tribunal quorum was in order, the judge adjourned the hearing for an hour promising to rule on Mr. Saraki’s refusal to appear when he returns.
Meanwhile, earlier reports circulate by aides of Saraki that the Court of Appeal has issued a ruling quashing the warrant of arrest against him turned out to be false. Sahara reporters learnt from sources at the court that no such order was issued by the Court of Appeal today.