Arrest And Detention Of Blogger @Abusidiqu By EFCC Is Troubling - Inibehe Effiong

Information reaching the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD) has it that a popular Nigerian blogger and political commentator, Mr Abubakar Sidiqu Usman, also known as Abusidiqu, was arrested on the early hours of Monday 8th August, 2016 by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) purportedly over a recent critical report he published against the Chairman of the Commission, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

We understand that a team of stern looking and heavily armed operatives of the Commission led by one Sambo M. Mangana stormed the private residence of the blogger in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with a search warrant and whisked him away in a commando style after they had ransacked his house, without disclosing the reason for the search and arrest.

Though details of the arrest is yet to be made the public by the EFCC, it is worrisome and extremely troubling that the commission will arrest a citizen of Nigeria in a manner reminiscent of the dark days of military dictatorship.

Press Release: CODE OF CONDUCT TRIBUNAL ADJOURNS ITS SITTINGS TILL AFTER 2016 ANNUAL RECESS

Hon Danladi Yakubu Umar

The Chairman Hon Danladi Yakubu Umar, Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday adjourned all sittings scheduled for this week and those to come within July and August till after the resumption from recess to be embarked by the Tribunal’s Judges soon.

The decision was taken due to the ongoing Roundtable Discussion involving CCT and other critical stakeholders within and outside the country, to develop the Code of Ethics and Practice Directions for the Code of Conduct Tribunal to ensure fair and speedy trials, sponsored by European Union (EU) and implemented by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC).

SP Saraki accuses EFCC of tampering with evidence

Profile picture os saraki

The Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in his resumed trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal yesterday, accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of tampering with the assets declaration form he submitted on assumption of office as governor of Kwara State.

He made the submission through his defence counsel, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) who was cross-examining the prosecution witness, Michael Wetkast yesterday.

Erokoro said since the property at No. 15a&b Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi Lagos that EFCC accused Saraki of anticipatorily purchasing was not purchased and paid for till 2008, five years after the form was filled in 2003, then “logic tells us the Exhibit 1 has been tampered with.”

Compliance by public officials to assets declaration Under Buhari Administration greatly increased– CCB

Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) said that more than ever before, the rate of compliance to assets declaration requirement by public officers has increased since the inception of the Buhari administration. CCB’s Head, Press and Protocol Unit, Mohammad Idris appealed to public official yet to comply to do so.

“Since the inception of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, the rate of compliance by public officials in responding to assets declaration has greatly increased.

Nigerians in Diaspora - ‘We’ll Write Saraki’s Resignation Letter If…’

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has offered to help embattled Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is currently standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over corruption-related charges, to write his resignation letter, if he does not know how to go about writing it.

The offer came as it was revealed that over 1000 Nigerians living in London have signed up with NDMG to participate in a walk from No 1 to No 9 Northumberland Avenue London, which houses the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom. The NDMG revealed they would hold a one hour sit out at the embassy to demand amongst other things the removal of all public officials indicted for corruption using the Senate President’s case as the anchor. An electronic copy of the speech to be delivered at the sit out, titled “10 Reasons Why Bukola Saraki Must Resign as Senate President within the Next 10 Days,” stated that the position of Senate President has been tainted beyond imagination with the endless scandals around the current holder.

The speech, to be presented by Engr. Onyilo Adeka, said there are many reasons why Saraki must immediately resign as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: “His alleged failure to declare his assets or falsifying any declaration he did make is a violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as spelt out in the constitution. A lawbreaker has no business leading the nation’s law making the arm.

10 Reasons Why Bukola Saraki Must Resign as Senate President within Next 10 Days - Nigerians in London protest

An electronic copy of the speech to be delivered today at the sit out titled "10 Reasons Why Bukola Saraki Must Resign as Senate President within the Next 10 Days" declared that the position of Senate President has been tainted beyond imagination with the endless scandals around the current holder.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has offered to help embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki, currently standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over corruption related charges, to write his resignation letter if he does not know how to go about it.

The offer came as officials of the group said that as many as 1000 Nigerians living in London have signed up with NDMG to participate in a walk and sit out protest from No 1 to No 9 Northumberland Avenue London, which houses the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom.

An electronic copy of the speech to be delivered today at the sit out titled "10 Reasons Why Bukola Saraki Must Resign as Senate President within the Next 10 Days" declared that the position of Senate President has been tainted beyond imagination with the endless scandals around the current holder.

Danladi, Don't Listen To These Jokers: False Asset Declaration - Withdraw From Ongoing Trial Of Saraki

CCT Justics Umar Danladi

You wonder why Nigeria got into this mess in the first place. It's because of these people. They all set bad precedents when they were in court. They misinterpreted the law and the constitution. They decided cases in favor of the highest bidders and set criminals free at will. Now, they still want to continue to influence the system, even when they are no longer Justices.

Some leading legal luminaries including former justices of the Supreme Court have advised Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Danladi Umar, to withdraw from presiding the ongoing trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki over alleged false assets declaration to ensure fairness in the matter.

Saraki's  legal giants, who picked holes in the Supreme Court judgement of February 5, 2016 giving the CCT jurisdiction in the Saraki trial, argued that the CCT is not a court of law under our Constitution and cannot be invested with criminal or quasi-criminal jurisdiction.

Saraki's Trials:Dino Melaye Pledges Absolute Loyalty to the Senate President

Senator Dino Melaye who is currently representing the people of Kogi West in the Nigeria's Upper Legislative Chamber, Senate, has pledged his absolute loyalty to the embertled Senate President, Senator Olubukola Abubakar Sarak.


Sarak is currently standing trials of a 13 count charges base on false asset declearations at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja

Melaye took ot his facebook page today and declared that that his total loyalty remained with with Saraki and that only death can take hie loyalty away.

He said : My brother and friend Sen. Bukola Saraki,if you have 1 trillion supporters I'm one,if you have one billion I'm one,if you have one million I'm one,if you have one thousound I'm one if you have ten I'm one,if you have only one supporter I'm one and if you have no single supporter it means I'm dead. No shaking. Four years tooo sure.

Joe Igbokwe - Nigeria’s Mendacious Senate Breaks My Heart

Let me sincerely tender an unreserved apology to the few decent men and women in the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for using the above caption to describe them. I am led to use this caption because of the signals emanating from the 8th Senate since its inception last year. I am not trying to throw away the baby with the bathe water but to rebuke men and women who do not know what Nigerians need at this critical point in the nation’s history. I am trying to call to order these leaders who are yet to come to terms that Change is here to stay in Nigeria for the better. I am persuaded to call the Senators names because I have seen the Senate turning into a national broken mirror.

UPDATES - False Assets Declaration: Saraki Arrives Tribunal with Just 4 Senators.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki already arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, in company of just four Senators. The Senators are Shaaba Lafiagi – Kwara North; Senator Kabiru Gaya – Kano; Senator Rafiu Ibrahim – Kwara South and  Senator Stella Oduah.

Justics Danladi Umar of CCT had three days ago said the Nigerian senate is no trial but Senator Bukola Saraki, hence there is no need for the Senators to overcrowding the tribunal.

Senator Olubukola Abubakar Saraki who is the Nigeria's Senate President is currently standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets and other criminal charges which the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, claimed was carried out while he was the Governor of Kwara State.

The Senate President had until now, enjoyed a large company of Senators who had been accompanying him to the tribunal in a bid to show their support.

BREAKING: Ethics Committee of Nigeria's Senate called off CCT Chaiman summon

Ethics Committee of @NGRSenate has called off the summon extended to the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Danladi Umar.

The Nigerian Senate Ethics Committee composed of 11 members met today at the National Assembly in Abuja and hastily decided to jettison plans to summon the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Danlami Umar.



It was today learnt that members of the tribunal buckled under pressure as they received many calls from constituents condemning the move.

Last week, the telephone numbers of all Nigerian lawmakers released to the public and yesterday followed up by releasing names and numbers of members of the Ethics Committee including a new mobile number secretly acquired by the chair of the committee, Senator Samuel Anyawu.

CCT: Senators Should Stop Attending Saraki’s Trial

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar has criticized senators who have been attending the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Umar further said that the Senate is not on trial before the tribunal hence there’s no need for the legislators to appear with Saraki every day.

The CCT Chairman made the comment on Monday, April 18, 2016, when the Senate President’s trial resumed.

“The Senate is not on trial. The senators should sit down and do their work. They don’t need to be here. It is shameful and disgrace to the nation,” Umar said.

The following are among the Senators who attended the proceedings at the CCT with the Senate President on Monday; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Kabir Gaya, Shabah Lafiaji, Samuel Anyanwu, Stella Oduah, Danjuma Goje, Dino Melaye, Ali Ndume and Tayo Alasoadura.

Senate President Saraki writes resignation letter

Sources have revealed that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is considering tendering his resignation letter as Majority of the senators have resolved to toe the line of party supremacy, the Nation confirmed.

This came few days after the Federal High Court Abuja, refused to stop his on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over a 13-count charge of false declaration of assets.

Reliable National Assembly sources allegedly told The Nation that at the wake of the judgment delivered by Justice Abdul Kafarati, on Friday, some front line supporters of the embattled Senate President have resolved to withdraw their support for Saraki in his bid to remain in office as Senate President, while his trial at the CCT lasts.

PHOTONEWS: Images From Code of Conduct Tribunal Of Senate President Saraki

More Images From Code of Conduct Tribunal Of Senate President Saraki On Monday, April 18th ‪#‎CCTvsSaraki‬.

Osun Speaker Najeem Salam Faults Senate on CCB Act Amendment

The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, has expressed his objection to the amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) acts coupled with Administration of Criminal justice act being currently undertaken by the Senate, saying the timing was wrong and the perception was negative.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, Salaam stressed that the insensitivity displayed by the sponsor of the bills has further aggravated the misconception of the people about the disposition of the National Assembly towards the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhamnadu Buhari-led government.

Group to FG: Remove CCT chairman now

The New Nigeria Group, a Civil Society Organisation has called on the federal government to sack the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar over allegations of corruption levelled against him while maintaining that a ”wounded personality cannot be fair in rulings.”

Also, the group has alleged that senior colleagues of the CCT chairman, such as a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, and former minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke had demanded the removal of the chairman citing several allegations against him and the huge embarrassment he had caused the profession which had made the tribunal unable to sit.

Saraki’s CCT criminal trial to proceed day-to-day

Code of Conduct Tribunal's Chairman  Danladi Umar, has directed that the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will henceforth proceed day to day from today (Monday) until the conclusion of the case. Daily trial will begin 10am and end 6pm everyday.

Umar, who gave this directive at the resumed hearing in the case on Monday, said his decision to conduct the trial day to day was in line with the provisions of section 396(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. He gave the directive in response to a request for one hour stand-down by the lawyer who represented the prosecution on Monday, Mr. Gabriel Esegine.

Fresh!!! How Saraki's jubilation party failed in Ilorin on Friday

Handbill to commemorate Saraki's victory

The planned jubilation to commemorate the victory of the embattled Senate president Abubakar Bukola Saraki today in Ilorin failed as the Abuja Federal High Court dismissed his case claiming that the lawsuit filed by Saraki asking to disqualify Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal amounts to abuse of court process and that most of the reliefs sought have been decided in other courts before now.

This is the handbill that was released with the aim to go into circulation, when party secretary in Kwara State, Mr. Bode Adekanye erroneously announced Oga ti wini (Leader has won). It was to commemorate the victory of the leader at Federal High Court.

There and then, the welfare secretary contacted the State Chairman on phone who said the case is bad, 'We lost o'. Then a young lady shouted the party secretary down, 'You better be saying the right thing, you liars'.

Federal High Courth Dismisses Saraki’s application, says he must face corruption trial

Happy to report that due to eternal vigilance, principled and resilient pressure, the Abuja Federal High Court today has again dismissed the application by Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking nullification of his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.


Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has lost the case before Billionaire Justice Abu-Kafarati today, the court has just delivered his judgement claiming the lawsuit filed by Saraki asking to disqualify Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal amounts to abuse of court process and that most of the reliefs sought have been decided in other courts before now. Adding that the CCT is a constitutional body, in the discharge of its legal obligation which should not be interfered with by a court of law.

“I find that none of the claims fall within chapter four of the constitution”

Lawyers condemn Senate’s bid to amend CCT law

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), have condemned the move by the Senate to amend the law setting up the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, with a view to whittling down the agencies’ powers.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria said the commencement of the amendment of the Act, establishing the CCB and CCT by the Senate, had exposed the intention of the country’s legislators to encourage corrupt practices and shield corrupt leaders from prosecution.


The Senate, on Thursday, passed for second reading, a bill for to amend the CCB and Tribunal Act barely 48 hours after its presentation by the sponsor, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, (Peoples Democratic Party, Delta North), on the floor of the upper chamber.