Saraki in the dock, pleads not guilty to charges against him

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in a box labelled “Accused Box”. The former Kwara State governor has however pleaded not guilty.

He pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges against him.

Saraki is facing a 13-count corruption charge on false declaration of assets.

Just before he pleaded not guilty to the last charge, Saraki protested again that the charges were not made known to him before now.

“The judiciary is on trial,” Saraki declares.

But the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) insisted that the charges were made known to the accused.

Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, ruled that trial before the tribunal was criminal in nature and as such further argument will be taken after the accused had taken his plea.

As at the time of filing this report, the courtroom of the Code of Conduct Tribunal was filled up, with Senators constituting the higher percentage of the audience as the trial of Senator Saraki.

The management of the tribunal ordered TVC and Channels television to stop live transmission of the proceedings which was ignored.