Judge pulls out of Saraki’s asset declaration trial

‎Ahmed Mohammed, justice of the federal high court, Abuja – whom Bukola Saraki, senate president, approached for an order restraining the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) from trying and arresting him – has withdrawn from the case.

On September 17, Saraki, through an ex-parte application, as‎ked Mohammed to give an order halting his trial by the CCT for alleged false declaration of assets.

‎The judge ordered the parties to the case – the CCT, and the ministry of justice – to appear before him on September 21. But Saraki’s lawyers argued that the order of the court meant the suspension of their client’s trial at the CCT.
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Following the developments in the media arising from the supposed order of the high court, Mohammed on Wednesday said he was withdrawing from the case owing to crisis of confidence.

He reasoned that he would unfairly judged if his judgment in the case went in favour of, or against Saraki.

Mohammed thereafter said that the case file would be returned to the chief judge of the high court for reassignment.

“While it is not my intention to join issues with the authors of the said publication, I strongly feel that the records should be set straight,” he said.

“In the first instance, I have never made any restraining order against any of the defendants and in particular, the code of conduct tribunal vide a motion ex parte or any motion at all.

“Those who are conversant with the workings of this court know it is not in the habit of granting restraining orders to stop public institutions from carrying out their statutory duties‎.”