Photo: Saraki interviewed by newsmen as he leaves CCT premises after a court session

The chairman of Code of Conduct tribunal [CCT], Justice Danladi Umar has vows to bring the trial of Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki to a successful conclusion.

Justice Umar made the pledge barely 24 hours after it convicted former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe of false declaration of assets.

The Judge remarkably told Senator Saraki: “I won’t withdraw from your case”.

The CCT chairman gave his reasons why he will not withdraw from the case.

This will be the second time Umar is dismissing Saraki’s application for him to withdraw from the trial .

In his ruling on Wednesday, Umar said that he would not withdraw from the trial because there would be no one to sit in judgment over the case. 

“The application to recuse myself has not been contemplated in the constitution. 

“In the absence of a chairman this trial cannot go on, therefore I cannot recuse myself. 

“The chairman is the tribunal, without the chairman there is no tribunal.

Senator Saraki is facing a 13-count charge of false declaration of assets at the Tribunal.

On Tuesday, the Tribunal had found Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe guilty of false declaration of assets.

Chairman of the tribunal ruled that Orubebe will forfeit the property.

Mr Orubebe was charged by the Code of Conduct Bureau for alleged failure to declare landed property in Kyamu and Asokoro district, both in Abuja, on assumption of office as minister on September 26, 2007.

Justice Umar explained that the testimonies and document presented by the prosecution prove that the former minister is guilty as charged.

In the other counts, Mr Orubebe was also accused of allegedly accepting bribes totalling 70 million naira for the award of contracts in favour of his company.

“The prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and all evidence tendered are admitted,” the court ruled.

The tribunal chairman held that Orubebe committed an offence for not declaring a piece of property in Abuja, which the former minister claimed he had sold.

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