Saraki’s trial won’t end at CCT, says Melaye

Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, on Saturday said the alleged false assets declaration trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki will go from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to the supreme court.

Speaking after the Rotary Club of Ilorin conferred an award on him, Melaye said it was evident that the trial was political.

He declared unalloyed support for Saraki, saying many senators were behind the nation’s number three citizen.

“One thing I want to assure Nigerians is that the trial of Saraki will not end in the CCT, but in the Supreme Court and we are with the Senate president until we get to the last bus stop,” he said.

“We are with him up till Supreme Court. Our support for the senate president is total and undiluted. This is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.”

He also spoke in a manner suggesting that there will be a showdown with the executive over the 2016 budget.

The lawmaker called on his colleagues to ensure full implementation of the budget.

“What is more important is not the signing of the budget but its implementation. May we never see a situation where only 30 per cent of capital projects is implemented,” he said.

“I am using this opportunity to plead with my colleagues in the national assembly to make sure that our committees function properly and do a very holistic oversight and see to the implementation of this budget and pray that the executive becomes born again by doing the right thing.

“We look forward to making sure that the national assembly with all sincerity of purpose carries out monitoring of the MDAs to make sure that this budget is properly implemented.”

This is not the first time that Melaye will declare open support for Saraki.

Last month, he said only death would prevent him from supporting the senate president.