Buhari Finally opens up on Saraki’s trial; insist law will take its course

The Nation--President Muhammadu Buhari will not  interfere in the ongoing trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

He will allow the court process to run its course, the President said yesterday in New York.

Saraki is facing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false assets declaration. The tribunal has fixed October 21-23 to hear the matter.

Saraki’s supporters are said to be pleading with emirs and other prominent citizens to put in a word for the Senate president. But Buhari told our correspondent in an interview that it would be an impeachable offence if he intervened.

Here are exerpts from the interview:

The Senate president is facing alleged false assets declaration allegations but you’ve been aloof from the case. What is your position on the issue?

“What has the President got to do with it as a person? The case is in court. Do Nigerians expect me to tell the Chief Justice to tell whichever court that they shouldn’t try the Senate president?

“Do Nigerians know about the constitution of their own country? The judiciary, the legislature and the executive have got their own roles within the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Then, how do they expect me to interfere? I can be successfully impeached if I do it.

Today in Abuja, at least 82 senators passed a vote of confidence on the Senate President. That is a significant number of senators. However, Nigerians will like to know, as the president, how confident are you in the senate president?

That would depend on the outcome of the court’s decision.

Are you on speaking terms with the Senate president?

There are some appointments, which the Senate has to approve. And I can’t remember how many letters I personally wrote to him, because this is constitutional. There are people I want to work with, I cannot work with them unless the National Assembly approves. So I’ve been writing to the Senate President and to the leader of the House (of Representatives). This is constitutional.

What do you have to say on the media’s review of your first three months in office?

“The media is too inquisitive for my liking (laughing).

“They ask too many questions, and I agonise over this with my adviser on media that especially our own press in Nigeria, why can’t they do more of investigative journalism? “There are a lot of things the media can do without harassing the president. For example,  my assets declaration. I’ve declared my assets four times since the first time I got a political appointment. Why can’t the press go and find out about the previous times? Instead they’re making headlines about my assets.

It’s been circulating that you’ve been recovering some of the money stolen by corrupt Nigerians from the treasury. How true is this and how much have you recovered?

I can’t give you figures now, because of the legal implications. It’s much easier to talk about what we’re doing according to documents. For example, every ship that is loading Nigerian crude from our terminals is supposed to record how much it has taken and on behalf of who is lifting it in terms of customer, including whether the crude oil belongs to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or it belongs to our partners, like Shell, Mobil, Chevron and so on. And then we ask where are they going? Including the facts of the documents like when it was sold and which account the money was going. We have gone quite far and a number of countries have cooperated with us. In fact, again we try to get more facts from Lloyd’s of London, that is the famous shipping line insurance brokers. Because some people would take petroleum from terminals, and then change the receipt, change its direction, and put the money into individual accounts. So we want those documents in our hands so we can successfully prosecute those who have been stealing Nigerian crude. We can’t mention the details because it may compromise the legal processes, but definitely, we have done a lot of work and very soon the processes of prosecution will start.

Uproar in Senate

There was disquiet in the Senate yesterday over a vote of confidence passed on Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and other members of the leadership of the upper chamber.

The confidence vote, supported by 83 senators – 48 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 35 All Progressives Congress (APC) senator-sparked a protest on the floor of the chamber.

Some Senators almost exchanged blows but for the quick intervention of others who stood between the combatants.

The sponsor-in-chief of the motion was Senator David Umaru (Niger East). Senator Ahmed Rufai Yerima (Zamfara West) seconded.

Yesterday’s vote of confidence on the leadership of the Senate was the second in two months, the first being on July 28, when the senators adopted confidence vote as a sign of solidarity with the Senate President and members of the Senate leadership.

Business and Rules Committee Chairman Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) may have unwittingly sparked the protest when he dissociated himself from the vote of confidence.

Omoworare, whose name was number 11 on the list of supporters of the motion, sought and was granted permission by Saraki to make some observations on the motion.

The Osun State APC lawmaker, to the consternation of the promoters of the motion, said he was not consulted before his name was smuggled into the list of supporters of the confidence vote.

He insisted that his name be struck out of the list since he knew nothing about the motion.

He added that as chairman, Senate Business and Rules, he should have known about the motion “but because it came under a motion of urgent national importance”, he had no issue with the presentation.

He, however, said that his name should be removed from the list of sponsors of the motion.

After the confidence vote had been moved and adopted, the Senate President gave Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) the floor to speak.

Before Saraki gave the nod to Umaru to present his motion,  Marafa was itching to speak. He raised his hand several times.

The Senate President who may have gauged Marafa’s mindset ignored him and gave Umaru the floor to make his presentation.

Marafa waited but when Saraki allowed him to speak, he came under Senate Order 53 (5), which says “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending—”.

He was apparently referring to the welcome address by Saraki where the Senate President referred copiously to his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

But the Senate President asked Marafa to read Order 53(6), which states: “It shall be out of Order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”

Instead of reading Order 53(6), Marafa chose to read Order 53(8), which says: “No Senator shall impute improper motives to any other Senator.”

The Senate President promptly ruled Marafa out of order and asked him to sit down, but Marafa persisted.

He protested profusely but the Senate president ignored him.

As Umaru read his prayers, Marafa was heard shouting “nay! Nay! Nay!” to all the prayers.

His was a lone voice that did not make any difference.

But Senator Isah Hamma Misau (Bauchi Central) could not stomach what he called Marafa’s “overbearing behavior”.

Misau, a strong supporter of Saraki, sprang from his seat and attempted to call Marafa to order, but failed.

He rained unprinted words on Marafa, who responded in like manner. The situation degenerated.

Senators massed around the duo who were already charging at each other.

Proceedings were halted for over 20 minutes as the altercation persisted.

Marafa felt his right as a senator was being breached. He became almost uncontrollable, until he was led away from the floor.

Umaru, in his lead debate, noted that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended guaranteed the separation of powers and the independence of the legislature.

He said the legislative arm of government remained the mainstay  of democratic governance, liberty, freedom, fair hearing, checks and balances and, above all, the protection of human rights of the citizenry.

Umaru said that the Senate was determined to focus on matters of national interest and importance to the ordinary people of Nigeria and other issues that will enhance  their safety, livelihood, social and political wellbeing.

He added that the Senate was determined to continue to perform its constitutional responsibilities in defence of democracy and the rule of law for the betterment and development of the country.

He noted  “with dismay, the attempt and continued interference in the internal affairs of the Senate by detractors and media propaganda against Senators, the Senate and its leadership by selfish politicians”.

Umaru said “considering the ongoing unwarranted embarrassment and aspersions being cast on the Senate and its leadership”, the Senate shall not allow itself  to be “distracted, deterred or succumb to cheap blackmail in the course of carrying out its constitutional responsibilities by any individual or group of people under any pretence or guise for personal political interest.”

He prayed the Senate to resolve to pass a vote of confidence in the Senate President; the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and the entire leadership of the Senate as presently constituted.

The prayers were adopted. Senator Marafa showed open disapproval of the prayers.

Umaru also prayed the Senate to resolve to call on Nigerians, groups and political associations not to allow themselves to be used by any person or persons to harass, intimidate or blackmail the Senate, Senators and its leadership.

The prayer was also adopted. Marafa said “nay” to the prayer.

It was after the adoption of the prayers that the altercation between Marafa and Misau heightened.

Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu later apologised to Nigerians and the Senate for the disquiet.

Speaking on the vote of confidence, Chairman, Senate ad-hoc committee on Media and publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, said that 83 senators endorsed the leadership of the Senate was the expression of confidence the lawmakers reposed on their leadership.

He said that the Senate would not be distracted “by people with inordinate ambition”.

Melaye said Ekweremadu apologized to Nigerians and the Senate for “the unbecoming attitude of Senator Marafa”.

He described Marafa’s behavious as “regrettable, condemnable and unacceptable” saying that “we assure Nigerians that this will be the last time the Senate will condone such a behavour”.

Melaye added “If it happens again, it will be met with the full weight of the Senate – in line with Senate Standing Rules.”