PRESS RELEASE#
The Senator Representing Owerri Zone Distinguished Senator Samdaddy Anyanwu has congratulated the Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki on his acquittal of false asset declaration charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the case was dismissed, Senator Anyanwu expressed happiness that the matter has finally been led to rest while describing the judgement as victory for all Nigerians.
Senator Anyanwu who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Petitions and Privileges stated that the Tribunal has finally vindicated the no case submission of Senator Saraki.
He explained that his stand and indeed the stands of majority of his colleagues in the Senate that the Senate President is falsely accused has been sufficiently proved.
Senator Anyanwu urged the Senate President to continue with his good leadership tendencies that has endeared him to the entire National Assembly which explains the huge support he enjoys, especially now that the Tribunal distraction is over.
In its ruling, the tribunal headed by Justice Danladi Umar, held that FG failed to prove essential elements of all the allegations it levelled against Saraki.
The tribunal held that both oral and documentary evidence that were laid by four witnesses FG brought before it were “so discredited during cross-examination”, saying it was so”manifestly unreliable that no court or tribunal can rely on it to make a conviction”. “In the light of the foregoing, the tribunal has no other option that to discharge the defendant.
“The Honourable tribunal upholds the no-case submission and the defendant is accordingly discharged and acquitted”, Justice Umar held.
The Federal Government had in the charge with suit No. CCT/ABJ/01/15 alleged that Saraki made
false/anticipatory declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau operated foreign accounts while in office as Kwara State governor between 2003 and 2011, as well as collected governorship salary four years after his tenure had elapsed.
