STATEMENT BY DR. ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI ON THE CCT DECISION

Today, June 14, 2017, the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja
discharged and acquitted me on a case of false declaration of assets,
which started in September 2015.

You would recall that at the beginning of the trial, I maintained that
I will clear my name. The conclusion of this trial has vindicated my
position. With the outcome of this case, our faith is renewed in our
courts and our hope is restored that the judiciary in our country
could indeed provide sanctuary for all those who seek justice.

I thank the Almighty Allah, the ultimate Judge and the repository of
all powers. He alone has brought about this victory. I am immensely
grateful to all my colleagues in the National Assembly for their
abiding support. All through my trial, they demonstrated their strong
conviction about the choice we all decided to make two years ago. I
thank members of my family for their unflinching support. I thank all
friends and supporters back home in Kwara State and across the length
and breadth of our country for their prayers and their sacrifices. My
gratitude also goes to all members of my legal team for their tireless
efforts to ensure the cause of justice is served.

After undergoing the crucible of a tortuous trial, my vindication
today calls for celebration. It is my belief however that if there
should be any celebration at all, it should be a celebration of the
hopes that this judgment gives us as citizens that despite all the
challenges that we face as a country, we are well on our way to
building a country where the innocent needs not be afraid. I therefore
urge all my supporters to refrain from any unbridled triumphalism. The
challenges that our country faces today are enormous and do not allow
for wanton celebration. Instead, we should all reflect on the
significance of this moment and what it meant for our democracy.

On a personal note, I harbour no grudge against anyone, regardless of
the role they might have played in the persecution that I had endured
in the last two years. I believe that If my trial had in anyway given
hope to the common man that no matter the forces arraigned against
him, he can still get justice in our courts, then my tribulation had
not been in vain.

Once again, I thank my colleagues in the 8th Senate for standing firm.
Regardless of the distraction of my trial, we have achieved more as
legislators than the previous Senates. Now that this distraction is
over, we can even achieve so much more. We must now proceed from here
with greater vigour to deliver on the expectations of Nigerians and
show that this 8th Senate can indeed play a central role in improving
the quality of lives of our people.

Lastly, I thank all the gentlemen of the press for your abiding
interest in this case, which I believe had contributed in no small
measure in ensuring that truth and reason ultimately prevailed.

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON
President of the Senate