BY KAYODE ADEOTI
The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki with Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) will be resuming 6th February, 2018.
Saraki was dragged before CCT by the Federal Government over alleged false declaration of asset when he was the Executive Governor of Kwara state.
Recall that the matter dominated discuss on the pages of newspaper and other media space for over three years it lasted.
Unlike in the recent time, Saraki will only defend himself on 3-count charge as ordered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja which in its judgement nullified 15 out of the 18 charges against the Senate President.
The tribunal has however fixed February 6 for the resumption of the trial following an application to that effect by lead counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacob SAN.
It was learnt that the two contending parties, the Senate President and the Federal Government have filed appeal and cross-appeal at the Supreme Court in respect of the decision of the court of appeal.
Although the Administration of Criminal; Justice Act 2015 frown at incessant adjournments of Criminal matters, both Saraki and Federal Government may settle for a stay of the trial, having join issues with each other at the Apex Court.
On his part, Saraki is praying the Supreme court to uphold the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which in a no case submission discharged and acquitted him on the ground that the charges against him were predicated on hearsay which has no basis in law.
Saraki in the appeal filed by his lead counsel, Kanu Agabi prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement of the court of Appeal delivered on December 12, 2017 which voided 15 count charges against him and ordered him to defend himself from the remaining three.
It was learnt that the CCT under the Chairmanship of Danladi Yakubu Umar had issued hearing notices to both Saraki and Federal Government to appear before it on February 6, 2018, to take a common ground.
…pays tribute to music legend, Masekela
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has paid tribute to the late South African music legend, Hugh Masekela, calling him a statesman of African music.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that with Masekela’s death at the age of 78, the world had lost a boundless creative spirit, one who made immense contributions to the body of African arts, especially music.
“Song is the literature of South Africa,’ the man himself said, and he wrote a significant volume of that literature. His music was part of the soundtrack of the anti-Apartheid struggle. With his trumpet and voice, Masekela gave expression to life under the Apartheid regime and heralded the release of Nelson Mandela and majority rule,โ Saraki observed.
โHe paid dearly for this activism, spending more than three decades of his life in exile.ย Yet he never stopped playing, and he never stopped smiling. He worked with Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and his son, Femi Kuti; and met and collaborated with some of the world’s best performers including: Miriam Makeba, Harry Belafonte, Louis Armstrong, Angelique Kidjo and Paul Simon,โ he added.
The President of the Senate called Masekela’s classic album, Grazing in the Grass ‘a touchstone’. He condoled with the South African nation and music lovers around the world on the passing of the musician, who he described as irreplaceable.
…pledges quick passage of CAMA, ISA bills
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, reiterated the commitment of the 8th National Assembly to swiftly consider and pass required amendments to the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and the Investment and Securities Act (ISA).
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, made the remarks when the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on CAMA and ISA led by Ozofu Ogiemudia presented reports on the two acts to the President of the Senate in Abuja.
He stated that the objective of the amendment is to place the country in a position that will be competitive and attract investments.
He said: “We at the 8th National Assembly has made this a priority to look at what we call our economic priority bills.ย These are the last two that form the core of our mandate and our promise to Nigerians.
“I am so excited that we made the promise to Nigerians at the beginning of the 8th Senate and today we have seen the completion of the work. To me, this is a great achievement.
“I am very confident that if we pass these two bills, they will significantly help in making our country attractive for investment. And if you look at the core issues affecting the country today, it all comes back to the issues about the economy.
“If we can get the economy right, create jobs for our youth, create investment and empower people, we will be able to significantly reduce all the areas of friction.
“So your contributions goes beyond just these two bills as it is a contribution to the development and social stability of the country. On our part, we will work to get them passed quickly in both chambers,” he said.
Earlier, the leader of the National Assembly TAC on CAMA and ISA, Ozofu Ogiemudia, stated that both acts are significant in that they set the frameworks for companies in the country and the Nigerian Capital Market, “which includes one of the most active and attractive stock exchanges on the continent.”
She noted that both acts which are strategically important needed to be updated given the changes in technology and society the world over.
She said: “In the last 28 years, CAMA has existed without any major amendment. In the case of the ISA, it has been in existence for 10 years now. Accordingly the technical advisory committee has produced and humbly submits to the Senate for consideration two repeal and re-enactment bills in respect of CAMA and the ISA.
โWe are confident that these bills will further the overriding objectives of this government to make the regulatory framework for doing business easier for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and to ease the process for compliance by businesses, thereby elevating Nigeria to the coveted position of an investment hub in the continent,” she stated.
