I will be vindicated, says a disappointed Saraki

Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday expressed his disappointment over the judgment of the Supreme Court which declared that the Code of Conduct Tribunal has the powers to try him on a charge of false assets declaration.

But he declared that he will be vindicated during the trial on a date yet to be fixed by the Tribunal.

The Senate President said this in a statement released on his behalf by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his media adviser few hours after the Supreme Court judgment.

The apex court had dismissed all the six grounds of appeal by Saraki against the judgment of the Appeal Court delivered on 30 October last year.

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgement of the appellate court that the CCT was properly constituted and has powers to try Saraki.

“The implication of the judgment”, Rotimi Jacobs who is prosecuting the Senate President on the 13 count charge on behalf of the Federal Government, told journalists “is that Saraki wil have to go and face his trial at the CCT.”

But the Senate President noted in his reaction to the judgment “that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial.”

“The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper,” he added in the statement.

The Senate President also assured that “truth will prevail and justice will be served,” at the end of the day.