Senators Affirm Loyalty To Saraki’s Leadership But They Were Absent During Yesterdays Trial

The tribe of Nigerian senators accompanying their leader, Bukola Saraki, facing trial for false asset declaration, is shrinking.

Yesterday, there were fewer than 12 senators in Saraki’s company when he arrived at 10:05am in the company of at least 12 senators.

As the trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki continued at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), on Wednesday, some Senators are insisting that the trial is politically motivated.

Speaking on the matter, the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, told press men that he was at the CCT because he was equally in court for politically-motivated reasons.

“This is not just about Saraki,” Ndume said, adding “I have been at the court since 9am. They are pushing my case too to make sure they only have people that they can control in the National Assembly leadership.”

Also, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, representing Sokoto East, told reporters outside the tribunal sitting that Saraki was the only option for Senate President.

“Our first option is Saraki,” Gobir said, adding “our second option is Saraki, and our third option is Saraki.”

Gobir, a second term Senator, and the Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, remarked that because the Senate was on recess and that many legislators had traveled, the number of Senators present at the court had gone down to between 25 and 30.

“However, if it is a question of those who support Bukola Saraki,” Gobir said, “You will see about 83 to 85 Senators here.”

Meanwhile, Senator Isa Misau, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, said “The executive branch seems to have abandoned their duty, which is governance, and are instead focusing on persecuting the Senate President. This seems to be why there is fuel scarcity, and nothing seems to be working in the country.”

The trial of the Senate President has been adjourned till Monday, April 18th.