The Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja began proceedings  this morning in the case filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation against Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Saraki is absent in person, but he is represented by his legal counsel, Mahmud Magaji.

The prosecuting counsel, MS Hassan, prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against Saraki for failing to appear before the court after being summoned.

?He specifically requested that Saraki should be arrested within two hours and brought to court.

Last night, Saraki got a court order summoning officials of the Federal Minist‎ry of Justice, Chairman of the CCB and Chairman of the Code of Conduct tribunal, CCT, to appear before the high court on September 21 to show cause why Saraki should be prosecuted over the alleged offence. The order was granted in chambers by Justice Ahmed Mohammed

Equally summoned to appear before the court was the deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, who signed the charge against Saraki.

The court made the orders aft‎er it heard an ex-parte application that was filed and moved by Saraki through his lawyer Mr. Mahmud Magaji, SAN.

The Code of Conduct Bureau has filed a 13-count charge against Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, alleging
that Saraki made false declaration of his assets.

The Deputy Director in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, M.S.Hassan, filed the charges against Saraki on September 11.

Saraki’s point of contention is that the case could not go on, without a substantive Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in place.

When the tribunal opened today, the prosecuting officer said the power to file a criminal charge does not reside in the attorney-general alone. “Any officer in the Attorney-General’s office is eminently qualified to do so in any court of law. I am competent to do so”, he said.

The prosecutor also said an objection to the trial can only be done after an accused has taken a plea.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, was not in court, but his lawyers sought to restrain the tribunal from sitting.