Nigeria, April 16, 2016 – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday described as amounting to an abuse of court processes for President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki to seek an order declaring Chairman of the (CCT) incompetent to try him since he was also under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
Saraki who is on trial for preemptive and false asset declaration also sought an order declaring his trial at the CCT as a violation of his fundamental human rights.
But on Friday, His Lordship, Justice Abdul Kafarati ruled that Mr. Saraki was wrong to have returned the case to a smaller court, after it was dismissed by a higher court.
“If the court grants the application, there will be conflict with the ruling of the appellate court”, Kafarati said, adding that the appeal can be likened to an attempt by the President of the Senate to stall his trial, and that the legal obligation of the CCT to try Saraki should not be infringed upon by a court of law.
“This court cannot interfere with the proceedings before the tribunal; it cannot also interfere with the duties of the respondents which have been imposed on them by law.
“I find that none of the claims fall within chapter four of the constitution”, he said adding that there are criminal procedure laws provides a process for protecting the accused and that the trial of Saraki cannot be regarded as an infringement of his right.
