Federal Government Is Witch Hunting Bukola Saraki – Senators

The Senate has accused the Federal Government of witch hunting Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Some members of the upper chamber have vowed to tackle the government over its decision to appeal against Saraki’s acquittal at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Senate President was acquitted of a false and anticipatory declaration of assets when he was governor of Kwara State.

According to Punch, the senators who spoke in separate interviews said the matter of the appeal would be raised when the National Assembly resumes from break on July 4, 2017.

The lawmakers said the appeal against the CCT judgment confirms that the executive is against the legislature.

On June 15, 2017, the CCT discharged and acquitted Saraki of all 18 charges preferred against him.

But on Tuesday, June 20, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, appealed the judgment.

Malami, through a private prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and a lawyer in the AGF office, filed 11 grounds notice of appeal against the acquittal, describing the CCT’s judgment as unreasonable.

Reacting to the appeal, the Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, described it as another move to waste the country’s time and resources.

“I think the APC is a party that has failed to put its house in order. I don’t understand it (the appeal) at all because the CCT absolved him; what are they going to get from the Court of Appeal?”, Olujimi, who is a member of the minority Peoples Democratic Party caucus and representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, said.

“The CCT looked thoroughly at all the issues before making the pronouncement. Why are they wasting taxpayers’ money on such? And I think they will also regret it.

“I am sure that when we resume, we will send a strong signal to show that if there is no understanding between the arms of government, the government cannot make progress.

“I don’t know why they want to drag down Nigerians and box them with frivolous suits, which will never take anybody anywhere. We will do that as soon as we resume.”

Senator Danjuma La’ah (PDP, Kaduna-South), also questioned the action of the Federal Government following Saraki’s acquittal.

La’ah said, “The appeal by the Federal Government is a witch-hunt; the government only wants to bring down our Senate President. They are fighting with every tooth and nail to make sure they stop him from contesting. He has not declared that he wants to contest (for the Presidency), so why are they bothering themselves? To tell you the fact, this issue is between the Acting President (Yemi Osinbajo) and Tinubu.

“We have our way of interacting and showing our concerns to the executive, and that will happen when we resume. We will not relent. We stood by him (Saraki) to the end, but they are not happy.

“Tinubu was given the opportunity (by not appealing against his acquittal by the CCT) even though his case was worse than that of the Senate President. I see no reason why the Senate President should not be given the same opportunity.”