By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, yesterday, said he was under “serious influence” during the trial of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and national leader of All Progressives Congress, APC.

Justice Umar, who made the revelation at the resumed hearing on the 16-count criminal charge against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said pressure was mounted on him from a certain quarter to take specific decisions.

Though he failed to disclose those who attempted to influence him, Justice Umar, however, said he remained resolute and ensured that justice was eventually done in the matter.

He said: “During the trial of Bola Tinubu, we were under serious influence. But you saw what happened. We did what we needed to do based on what was before us.”

It will be recalled that Federal Government had charged Tinubu before CCT over allegations that he falsely declared his assets and operated 10 foreign bank accounts while in office as a governor between 1999 and 2007.

The tribunal terminated further hearing on the three-count charge in 2011, even as it discharged and acquitted the defendant on the ground that the Federal Government failed to fulfill the necessary conditions precedent before the charge was filed.

It held that the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, which recommended the prosecution, never accorded the defendant the opportunity to explain alleged discrepancies in his assets declaration form.

… on Saraki’s case
Saraki, who is facing similar charges, had earlier prayed the tribunal to equally discharge him the same way it discharged Tinubu, saying he was not also allowed by CCB to offer explanations.

While refusing Saraki’s prayer, Justice Umar, in a ruling on March 24, admitted that the tribunal discharged Tinubu in error.

According to Justice Umar, “the tribunal has since realised that the decision it made on the case between FRN vs Tinubu was in error and has clearly departed from it.”

Nevertheless, the issue resurrected again yesterday, following an attempt by the CCT chairman to allay the fears of Saraki and his lawyers that the tribunal was being manipulated by external influence.

Justice Umar assured the parties that he would only be guided by the interest of justice and evidence laid before the tribunal.

He stressed that himself and the second member of the panel would ultimately render accounts to God.

Besides, Justice Umar urged both the prosecution and defence lawyers to conduct themselves in a manner that would enhance speedy determination of the case.

Justice Umar directed the defence team to restrict the number of lawyers who would cross-examine the prosecution witness to just one, saying the cross-examination process had been untidy with frequent change of lawyers by the defence team.

“It is certainly unreasonable that all the 100 counsel of the defence will have a bite at the cherry,” he said.

In his response, Saraki’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), said the CCT boss successfully allayed fears that his client would be prejudiced.

Meanwhile, the second member of the CCT panel, William Atedze, yesterday, debunked a newspaper publication accusing him of not contributing to the decisions and proceedings of the tribunal.

He branded the publication “nonsense,” saying it was wrong for anyone to insinuate that he had been docile.

He said: “I believe the article must have been written by a layman. A lawyer would not have written that nonsense. Are we supposed to be fighting on the bench? The bench is not a motor park. If there are differences, we resolve it in chamber.”

Star witness speaks

The star witness in the case, Mr. Michael Wetkas, under further cross-examination, yesterday, revealed how former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, directed the Presidential Implementation Committee on the sale of Federal Government landed assets to allow Saraki acquire the property at 15 McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

He said other persons Obasanjo directed the committee to give concession were former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and Ikoyi Baptist Church.