A fresh application filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking an order of interim injunction halting his trial on charges of false assets declaration preferred against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been opposed by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
This is just as Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-Kafarati ordered the respondents to the suit to appear before the court on Friday to give an insight into why the prayers sought by Saraki should not be granted, even as he was expected to grant the ex parte application filed and moved by the Senate President’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, on Monday (November 16).
A copy of the order has revealed that the fresh suit was filed by Saraki the same day a similar one which he filed before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court was struck out for lack of jurisdiction.
Justice Buba had dismissed the suit owing to the fact that it ought to have been filed in Abuja where he stated was the place issues that were being complained of by Saraki arose instead of Lagos.
The Supreme Court had earlier on November 12 granted an order of stay of proceedings of Saraki’s trial before the CCT, pending when his main appeal challenging the competence of the charges and the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him would be determined by the apex court.
The 11 respondents to the fresh suit are Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.
Others are the Code of Conduct Bureau, the CCT; the CCT chairman, Umar; Mr. Ataedzeagu Adza, CCB chairman, Mr. Sam Saba; Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Diri, and a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Muslim Hassan.