dailytrust.com.ng
Nigeria’s number three man in the nation’s order of precedence is without doubt a goldfish that is both visible and notable and comes with an unassailable pedigree that is the envy of many a man.
The Supreme Court on Friday 6th July discharged and declared innocent the Senate President Bukola Saraki of the entire charges of false assets declaration and money laundering. Since September 22, 2015 when his trial began at the Code of Conduct Tribunal it has no doubt been testy for the Senate President. Thankfully, justice had prevailed at the end his vindication.
Patience is indeed a virtue for it will be recalled that the Code of Code Tribunal (CCT) had earlier acquitted Saraki of all the eighteen charges that were brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for lack of merit.
Justice Centus Nweze, who delivered the lead judgment, ruled in clear conscience that there was no basis for the Court of Appeal to have asked Saraki to defend himself on charges 4,5 and 6 because the entire evidence of the prosecution were a product of hearsay.
Justice Nweze also floored the Court of Appeal’s judgment saying it was capable of making ill of jurisprudence. “This court will not lend its jurisdiction to such a charade and caricature of justice. It carries grave error in holding that a prima facie case has been established against the appellant”.
A five man panel of the Supreme Court had in the unanimous judgment agreed that the failure of the federal government to call vital witnesses in the trial of Saraki was fatal and thus rendered it nugatory, saying “The prosecution is duty bound by law to call all key witnesses to be able to establish prima facie case against anybody”.
The Supreme Court’s judgment has further demonstrated that no matter how long it takes an attempt by the thickening plot of the establishment to blur the issues with exaggerated conjectures the truth always prevails.
It became obvious that some vested interests in collusion with some political cabals were trying to use the CCT to bring up unsubstantiated allegations to tarnish the image of the Senate President.
President Muhammadu Buhari must be commended for his administration’s non-interference in the court process and after the Supreme Court’s judgment reacted by observing that the country’s judicial system was working despite the challenges it faces, warning that no one should be allowed to undermine or break it.
According to Buhari, Saraki’s pursuit of his case from the lowest to the apex court should be a precedent for others to emulate, recalling how he went through the same judicial process three times after he lost presidential elections.
The question still remains, what are the lessons that ought to be learnt from the Saraki case so that we do not take this regrettable route once more?
The triumph of Saraki is a clear tonic for lovers of justice and good governance because it became evident that the case was politically pre-motivated to achieve a pre-determined end through a futile and unsuccessful attempted to pervert the course of justice with the singular aim of punishing a proverbial cat with nine lives.
Considering the waste of precious time and scarce resources, the victory of Saraki has again underlined the need to avoid wastages, it is definitely not in the interest of anyone, the over 6 months wasted in the courts would have been devoted to tackling other pressing national issues.
This need to avoid disaffection and focus on national interest and avoid needless rift between the executive and the judiciary was echoed by none other than Saraki himself “Instead of working together in the interest of the nation and to seek to do better for our people, we are fighting one another and using legal instruments to mount baseless accusations against one another. Instead of exhibiting the need for unity and working day and night for that purpose, we are stoking the fire of division and rancour”.
Saraki’s victory at the Supreme Court has once again proved to Nigerians and the world that men of the bench are responsible and people of impeccable character who will never be intimidated or used as a willing tool in the hands of the executive and political cabal to bring the legislative arm on its knees.
Against all odds, appearing too strong to be easily removed from office, Saraki stands strong, dogged and courageous. He has stood firm, calm and focused, his effective and active command of affairs at the red chamber is not in doubt, and his constant charge for the way forward with positive contributions from all of us is an example of all that is good in a democracy.
Despite continued extreme provocation, a distinguished personality like Dr Bukola Saraki, deserves accolades for how he has been able to steer the Senate through turbulent waters of intimidation, harassment, calumny and repeated media narratives while still maintaining his dignity.
Saraki’s emergence as the Senate President against the wishes of certain forces within his party should be seen as an act of God therefore those fighting the will of the Almighty will surely fail. All hands should be on deck to tackle the myriads of problems confronting the citizenry, rather than deliberate stoking of the embers of crisis.
In the current political dispensation, Saraki has no doubt become a beautiful bride to be courted by all considering calls urging him to take advantage of his increasing popularity to vie for the presidential ticket especially the build-up to the 2019 general elections.
And though Saraki is yet to make clear his intentions on where he stands, the mudslinging continues, yet he remains undeterred, but the law gives him free allowance to make choices in accordance with his wishes, he is neither a traitor or a double agent but only a lover of good for Nigeria.
Gombe is former Managing Editor of Concord Press