Saraki: Time to face trial

Last week, Thursday 27, 2016, the court of appeal, for the umpteenth time, refused to halt the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. In a unanimous judgement, the five-man panel of the Abuja division of the court dismissed Saraki’s appeal describing it as an abuse of court process and a bid to evade trail before the CCT. The court also concurred with the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal that it indeed had the requisite jurisdiction to try Saraki.

We recall that since Saraki’s arraignment before the CCT, he has pursued various sorts of appeals and various courts, all seeking to stop his prosecution at the CCT. In every instance, his appeal has been rejected and the courts are now unanimous that the Senate President must face trial and prove his innocence rather than wanting to rely on technicalities to avoid trial altogether.

True, as Mr Saraki claims, his trial has all the trappings of a political vendetta. He may have offended some big wigs and they, in turn, promised to pay him back. The whole trial may be an attempt to remove him from the office of the Senate President after all. But, when all is said and done, the one question that really matters is: Is he guilty of the crimes as alleged? Claiming political persecution will not help his cause. That has always been the bane of effectively fighting corruption in a polity such as Nigeria. The accused does not necessarily deny guilt but alleges that he is being singled out whereas many of them or all of them (in the political class) are guilty of the same offence.

It is instructive to note that since the trial was commenced at the CCT, all Mr Saraki’s efforts and battles are geared towards avoiding trial rather than defending himself or proving his innocence at the CCT. That is not inspiring for the chief lawmaker of the federation, the number three most powerful man in the country. Regardless of the motive of those who accused him, Mr Saraki is bound to defend himself and prove his innocence so as to restore the people’s confidence in his leadership of the National Assembly.

Further, in saner societies, the occupant of such an office would have resigned his position the moment such charges were brought against him. The nature of the charges is such that can damage the institution of the National Assembly and its leader ought to respect the institution and seek to protect its sanctity and integrity. But not in Nigeria.

Mr Saraki needs to realise the greater danger his continued stay in office will do to the institution of the Senate and the country at large. It risks destroying any legitimacy previously enjoyed by the Senate and the National Assembly, and worse, it will weaken the ability of the National Assembly to perform its oversight function or check the excesses of the executive – a function sorely needed at this time in Nigeria to prevent a descent into authoritarianism.

The courts have refused to be used in this case to thwart the course of justice. They have refused to rely on technicalities to squash Mr Saraki’s trial and have been unanimous in telling him to go face his trial. It is time Mr Saraki heeds the courts’ admonition and stop his futile efforts to prevent going on trial.