Saraki and the Federal government are contesting the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which had nullified 15 out of the 18 charges filed against Saraki by the government for being baseless and frivolous, but had asked him to open defence on the remaining three charges.
A five-man panel presided by Justice Dattijo Muhammad of the Supreme Court upheld Saraki’s appeal, by dismissing the remnant three counts, declaring the evidence led by the prosecution as hearsay.
Saraki urged the Supreme Court to void the entire 18 charges, the Federal Government in its cross-appeal is praying the apex court to uphold the entire charges against the Senate President.
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) where Saraki was arraigned in 2015 by government on 18-count charge of false assets declaration had discharged and acquitted him on the ground that the charges brought against him were based on hearsay evidence that could not be relied upon to convict the defendant.
But the Federal Government not satisfied with the decision of the CCT, approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment.
Details later