Why I Authorized Appeal Against Bukola Saraki’s Acquittal

While speaking on Wednesday through a
statement co-signed by his SA on Media and
Publicity and the SA to the President on
Prosecution, the Attorney-General of the
Federation, has opened up on appealing of
Senate President’s acquittal.

We reported earlier today that the President
Buhari-led Federal Government has appealed
a court ruling that acquitted the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, of charges of
corruption and false declaration of assets.
According to a report by Punch, the
Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on
Wednesday, debunked insinuations that he
was not committed to the anti-corruption
war.
He said his total commitment to the war
against corruption informed his decision to
authorise the filing of an appeal against the
judgment of the Code of Conduct Tribunal
which acquitted the Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, of all 18 charges of false asset
declaration preferred against the former
Kwara State Governor.
The AGF, through a private prosecuting
counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and a lawyer in
the AGF office had on Tuesday filed 11
grounds notice of appeal against the
acquittal, describing the CCT’s judgment as
unreasonable.
The AGF spoke on Wednesday through a
statement co-signed by his Special Adviser
on Media and Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah and
the Special Assistant to the President on
Prosecution (AGF Office), Mr. Okoi Obono-
Obla.
The statement was reacting to a report in
which a member of the Prof. Itse SaGaey-led
Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Femi Odekunle, had at an
event on Saturday in Abuja, raised questions
about the AGF’s anti-corruption war.
The programme, where both SaGaey and
Odekunle spoke, was organised by the
National Association of Seadogs (the Pyrates
Confraternity), the Chairman of the panel.
Reacting, the AGF who highlighted a number
of measures he had put in place to fight
corruption as the demonstration of his
commitment to the anti-graft war,
expressed disappointment in Odekunle’s
comment.
The AGF maintained that despite some
recent setbacks suffered by the anti-
corruption war, the fight would continue to
be fought “resolutely, painstakingly,
doggedly, purposefully and determinedly
with all the constitutional and legal arsenals
at the disposal of the Federal Government of
Nigeria”.
He said to demonstrate that he was “fully
and completely committed, dedicated and
supports the war against corruption”, he
authorised the filing of the appeal against
Saraki’s acquittal by the CCT.
The statement read in part, “The Honourable
Attorney of the Federation wishes to assure
Nigerians that despite some recent setbacks
recorded in some of the cases involving
politically exposed people; that the war
against corruption is fully on course.
“It shall be fought resolutely, painstakingly,
doggedly, purposefully and determinedly
with all the constitutional and legal arsenals
at the disposal of the Federal Government of
Nigeria.
“The Federal Government is more than ever
before committed towards the complete
eradication of the scourge of corruption
and graft in the country.
“In this regard, the Honourable Attorney
General of the Federation has directed that a
Notice of Appeal be lodged against the
ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal
acquitting and discharging false assets
declaration case preferred against the
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.”
He reminded “those in a hurry to condemn
due to the temporary setbacks recorded
lately” that “they should tarry awhile
because a legal process is deemed not
concluded until it terminates at the Supreme
Court which is the highest court of
arbitration in Nigeria”.

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