TheCable

Okoi Obono-Obla, special assistant to the president on prosecution, says the victory of Bukola Saraki, senate president, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), is a setback in the war against corruption.

On Wednesday, Danladi Umar, CCT judge, said Saraki did not have a case to answer on the false assets charge.

He then dismissed the 18-count charge against the senate president.

But Obla said there was overwhelming evidence against Saraki that could not be dismissed on a no-case submission.

He also described as “hogwash” that the CCT’s ruling was an outcome of a political settlement reached between Saraki and the Buhari administration.

“It is a travesty of justice. It is pedestrian and it is outrageous. It is against the weight,” Obla said.

“There was overwhelming evidence, cogent evidence, incontrovertible evidence, which cannot be dismissed by a no-case submission. The trial judge ought to have called on the defendant to enter his defence against the evidence adduced by the prosecution.

“The prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), is one the best in the country and he conducted that case professionally, conscientiously and diligently. So we are amazed, we are surprised.

“We know that President Muhammadu Buhari is a paragon of integrity. The Attorney General of the Federation is also a paragon of integrity that will never compromise cases.

“And we will go on with this fight against corruption despite the frustration, despite the setback. We will go back to the drawing board, re-strategise because Nigeria must be saved. Our head is bruised but it is unbowed.”