Saraki’s Trial: Senate to Ask EFCC to Prosecute CCT Chairman

Tribunal arraigns Orubebe for false asset declaration, adjourns to October 26

Unless there is a change in strategy at the last minutes, the Senate will resolve today through a motion requesting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to activate its report indicting the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar.

The senate may also resolve that the directive by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), urging the agency to prosecute Umar for alleged financial crimes be initiated.

Although a senator told THISDAY in Abuja yesterday that the planned action of the Senate was in line with its constitutional role of oversight functions and exposing corruption, an insider said it was a planned move by the apex legislative organ of government to fight back in what many of its members suspect to be a “deliberate and sustained’’ move to humiliate its leadership, using the CCT.

‘’In a bold move, the Senate will resolve today through a motion that will be moved by a colleague from the North-central geo-political zone, urging the EFCC to prosecute the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar,’’ our source who pleaded anonymity stated.

‘’You are aware that the former AGF and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) had recommended to former President Goodluck Jonathan, that the Chairman of the CCT, Umar, be removed and prosecuted by the EFCC over an alleged collection of bribe.

“All we will be doing today is to request the EFCC to activate its report and the recommendation of the former Minister of Justice.’’

THISDAY reported yesterday that the former justice minister’s recommendation came before the tenure of former President Jonathan expired last May 29, and was predicated on the report of an investigation by the EFCC into an allegation by a retired Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, that Umar demanded N10 million bribe from him to quash a case against him.

Apparently based on the recommendation, the registered trustees of the Mission for Peace and Development Initiative had also recently filed a suit at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, seeking an order for the removal of the CCT chairman---on account of corruption allegations.

The immediate past chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, on his part, had on June 24, 2014 written to the AGF, concluding that there was sufficient evidence, even if circumstantial, that Umar collected money from an accused person, Rasheed A. Taiwo, through his personal assistant, Abdullahi, and that there was an attempt to cover up ‘’judicial corruption.’’

However, THISDAY gathered that the planned Senate’s action tomorrow will be the beginning of a strong contest for power between Senate President Bukola Saraki-led National Assembly and the executive arm of government---perceived to be behind Saraki-Must-Go forces.

Some senators who spoke with THISDAY in confidence ahead of the Tuesday session, alluded to the fact that they had been pushed to the wall to demonstrate that they also possess the strong resolve, as well as troops and political missiles to fight back.

Meanwhile, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) yesterday arraigned the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Peter Orubebe, on a four-count charge at the CCT bordering on false assets declaration.

However, the trial of Orubebe, could not proceed as planned because the prosecution was unable to assemble its witnesses before the tribunal, a situation that irked the CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar,

Justice Umar frowned at the inability of the federal government to bring its witnesses to the tribunal to commence the trial of the former Minister of Niger, despite having the ample time to prepare for the case.

Things went awry when the prosecution counsel, Musa Ibrahim Usman, after the “notguilty” plea of the former minister, pleaded with the tribunal for an adjournment to enable him assemble his witnesses, adding also that the principal witness was out of Abuja.

But the defence counsel, Selekowei Larry (SAN), opposed the request for adjournment and prayed the court to continue the matter, saying that the prosecution had all the time to make their witnesses ready for the matter.

The tribunal chairman, who was apparently angry with the prosecution said: “I am not happy that the prosecution’s witnesses are not before the tribunal.

“They have ample time within which to make their witnesses available today. The prosecution should take the proceedings of the tribunal serious.”

Before adjourning the matter till November 26, 2015 for definite hearing, Justice Umar reminded parties in the case that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provides for speedy hearing in criminal matter.

Earlier, Orubebe who was docked pleaded not guilty to the charges, bordering on breach of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Tribunal Act, when they were read out to him.

The charges were filed by Peter Danladi of CCB on October 8, 2015 on behalf of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).