Saraki should resign over CCT trial – Poll

Saraki in the accused box at the CCT

Respondents to an online poll on PUNCH website have demanded the resignation of Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Senate President to answer charges of false asset declaration levelled against him by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The respondents participated in an online poll on PUNCH website, www.punchng.com, asking the readers to answer the question: Should Dr. Bukola Saraki resign as Senate President over his alleged false assets declaration case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal?

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The survey required the participants to indicate either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

One thousand, seven hundred and fifty nine respondents participated in the poll, which opened on Monday, September 28, 2015 and closed on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

Demanding the resignation of the Senate President, 1,226 respondents, representing 70 per cent of the participants believed Saraki should resign by indicating a ‘Yes’.

On the other hand, 533 respondents, which represent 30 per cent of the participants, are of the opinion that Saraki, a former Presidential Adviser to Olusegun Obasanjo and the immediate past Kwara State governor, should not resign as the Senate President.

The Code of Conduct Bureau had dragged Saraki, who emerged the President of the Senate in controversial circumstances on Tuesday, June 9, before the CCT on charges bordering on false declaration of assets, especially during his time as the Kwara State’s helmsman between 2003 and 2011.

Saraki had battled unsuccessfully to stop his arrest and arraignment before the tribunal through his suits before a Federal High Court in Abuja and the Court of Appeal in the Federal Capital Territory.

When he finally made his dramatic appearance at the CCT on Tuesday, September 22, he pleaded not guilty to the 13 counts filed against him before the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, adjourned the case to October 21 and 22 for continuation of trial.

In pleading his innocence before Justice Umar, the accused had alleged that he was being politically-vilified for emerging the Senate President.