Senate President Bukola Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday, his media office has said.
Saraki finally agreed to appear before the tribunal after a Federal High Court and a Court of Appeal rejected his application to stop the tribunal from arresting him.
The CCT had on Monday insisted that saraki must be arrested. Shortly after, Saraki also lost at the courts.
A statement from Saraki’s media office said: “While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon.
“The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.
“Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim.
“Dr. Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.
“Dr. Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter,” the statement said.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, had on Monday said angrily that Saraki must appear at 10am on Tuesday to face the 13-count charge of alleged corruption.
Saraki, who the tribunal had ordered his arrest last week, was not present, but his team of lawyers, led by former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Joseph Daudu, was there.
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The chairman of the tribunal had asked the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to ensure Saraki’s arrest.
