Anti-Saraki Senators back down, rally round embattled Senate President

March 23, 2016Hassan Adebayo

Some All Progressives Congress senators who opposed the election of Bukola Saraki as Senate President, held a rare meeting Tuesday with Mr. Saraki’s key supporters from the same party, casting aside differences that for months polarised the ruling party’s senate caucus.

The meeting between the anti-Saraki group’s so-called Unity Forum and pro-Saraki’s Like Minds, had in attendance 10 senators – five from each of the two camps. It took place at the Asokoro residence of Aliyu Wammako, a former Sokoto State governor.

Mr. Wamakko confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the talks held.

The two sides had for months opposed the other, with some members of Unity Group pushing for Mr. Saraki’s removal.
The two groups emerged in the run up to the election of the Senate’s principal officers.

Mr. Saraki won the top seat in defiance of his party, APC’s decision to support his challenger, Ahmed Lawan.

Unity Forum’s most outspoken member, Kabiru Marafa, recently called for Mr. Saraki’s resignation in view of the senate president’s ongoing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.

Tuesday’s meeting had in attendance Mr. Lawan, Mr. Marafa, Gbenga Ashafa, and Suleiman Hukunyi as part of the group’s team.

One the other side, the Like Minds were represented by Danjuma Goje, Mr. Wammako, Sani Yerima, Kabiru Gaya and Adamu Aliero.

Speaking exclusively to PREMIUM TIMES at the end of the meeting which ended around 6.50 PM, Mr. Wammako said the meeting was held to end the crisis that hit the APC caucus following Mr. Saraki’s emergence as senate president.

He said it was high time the Senators belonging to the ruling party agreed to work together in the interest of Nigeria and to support President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Effectively the meeting has brought an end to crisis in the Senate between APC Senators who now support the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,” Mr. Wamako said.

This development came ahead of Mr. Saraki’s day at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday when the tribunal is expected to rule on his motion for the dismissal of the case against him on grounds of procedural error.

Another Senator, a member of the Unity Forum, who attended the meeting but asked that his identity be protected, said the meeting had three outcomes and that both sides agreed “to have a united APC caucus”.

The Senator said the first outcome was a decision that the composition of Senate committees be reviewed to conform with the Standing Rules of the Senate.

He said an upward review of the number of the committees must follow due process as prescribed by Section 60 of the Senate Rules.

The second point, he said, was that committees should also be reconstituted to “favour APC Senators”.

He said it was finally agreed that the APC caucus henceforth be “loyal to our party and be committed to its objectives”.

“The number three point is the supremacy of our party, loyalty to our leaders and support for President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

He said the “the meeting was held in the interest our party and Nigeria”.

Asked if the meeting was held to settle the longstanding Saraki row, he said, “It is beyond Saraki”. But he added that “there is no crisis between us again”.

“This man (Saraki) is in court and anything can happen.

“So APC Senators must come together and unite; otherwise, if anything happens to Saraki in the court PDP Senators who are very united may take over the Senate.

“And that would be a very great disservice to our party, the President and Nigerians who voted for change.

“So, we are now uniting like PDP Senators and are settling our differences,” the Senator said.

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Top News

Mike Onokan

Hello there!!! How come all those on the pro-Saraki at this meeting happened to be former governors like Saraki? Are certain people now becoming jittery that there might be the possibility of them being called upon very soon to answer questions that Saraki is having to answer now at the CCT? I smell a rat here. Are we witnessing what one could call ‘CLASS SURVIVAL STRATEGY’? Interesting time ahead.
- Rumournaire
  
  Your analysis is spot-on. These ex-governor senators fear that they may eventually be in the same docks as Saraki. But I don’t believe it will ssve Saraki. If they like, let them mobilise 1000 SANs to support Saraki at the CCT.
  - Julius
    
    lolz. I think they are up to 99 SANs now !
Darlington

Until Saraki’s charges at CCT are dropped, this so called reconciliation will remain a ruse.
raji

They have seen that saraki will go so they are preparing ground for the new senate president.
- Chikezie
  
  Raji, thanks for reading in between the lines. Saraki is gone.
Company man

The fools are coming back home. The only party leader is PMB others are regional leaders. Stop fooling yourself.
- KBE
  
  Regional leaders lol….
joe

They sought electoral offices in the first place, not because they have any convictions or principles or visions or anything at all to offer anybody else apart from enriching themselves!
- Watch man
  
  Thank you dear! They selected themselves, by themselves and for their pockets. Politicians are among the meanest and most selfish of all kinds of persons. When they are fighting it is because they disagreed on sharing formular. Nobody, I repeat, nobody should take them seriously or die for them.
  - joe
    
    I wonder how long this types of people will continue to hold a whole (black) race to ransom. They have decided to perpetually feed fat on the treasury of our countries and mortgage the future of the yet unborn. We will see how long it takes before we start confronting these guys physically. Confronting them with legal means seems not to be working for now.
    - Watch man
      
      You are right. The law is meant to free them and punish the poor masses. One of the major problems is that even the less privileged are being used by them just for a pittance. But one day monkey go go market and e no go come back!
favourtalk

It is for the good of the nation, putting nigeria first. Kudos to APC senators
- Fadama
  
  Putting the nation first or putting their pockets first?
  - KBE
    
    Don’t mind the e-rats.
  - Julius
    
    Their pocket and their stomach !
- Julius
  
  You think thats what this is about ? I doubt that very much. We shall see.
MushinSpeaks

Whatever is in the interest of the good of the nation, #isupport
Domingos

Just look at them! Mumudity at its height. These men NEVER stand together with Nigerians whose parents, sisters, brothers and relatives are bombed to death by Fulani& Kanuri Islamist terrorist group – Boko Haram of Northern Nigeria. They do not even consider a second talk less of a minute silence as deference for the souls of the dead. Instead this same band of nefarious thieving Nigerians whose leprous fingers of corruption have been active for too long, will continue to treat Nigerians with contempt by their very shameful behavior.

When last or when has any group of senators gathered together like the useless and miserable photo above to mourn the dead or stand with victims of Boko Haram? Even when 150 Nigerian soldiers were murdered by Boko haram these senators who earn $1.7m yearly never gathered to stand by the army. Now they gather to support a man who has fed from corruption since he was drinking from mammary glands…His Papa was there too! …..and the cycle continues.
senatorojd

United for their own common good, not the public.
- KBE
  
  “The second point, he said, was that committees should also be reconstituted to “favour APC Senators”. It is about them and not us. All for the goodies every man for himself. The jesters were not even gender sensitive enough to include a woman. Tinubu’s ghost has now been finally buried it seems.
Genusa

SARAKI MAY BE SET FREE
———————————–
Most likely, Saraki’s case will be dropped due to the procedural error of the case. According to constitution and the CCB law, if the CCB has issue with your asset declaration, they are required by law to investigate and invite the declarant to come forth and explain, and correct where necessary. In Saraki’s case, they never invited him for any explanation, even as his case was based on his asset declaration as far back as 2003, some 13yrs ago. CCB are the ones required by law to investigate an asset declaration to determine its correctness. But the EFCC did that instead. Even if Saraki is guilty, the procedure is faulty. The prosecution did not present a water-tight case. Saraki has now explored the loophole in the fact that he was never invited by the CCB to explain or correct the claimed false assets declared., as required by the CCB law. On technical grounds, the case may be discharged. The EFCC knowing that they might loose the case on this error, has claimed the judge collected bribe from Saraki. Yesterday, the judge disqualified himself from the case, because he said whatever judgment he now give will be seen as lacking merit. That though his judgment is ready, but he doesn’t want to continue. I think Saraki’s case will be thrown out on that technical error by the prosecution.
- B. Messi
  
  BULLSEYE!
- Chuks
  
  You are only being clever by half. There’s no human investigation anywhere in the world that does not have a technical error, but the extent to which a bribed judge prefers the technical error to the cause of justice makes the difference. It is up to the judge to see a half filled cup as half empty! Saraki made 4 false asset declarations, all with many inconsistencies and anticipatory declarations. He failed to utilise every next opportunity to correct previous mistakes. Besides he will be arraigned for money laundering and moving large sums of government money into his personal account. If we cluster our judicial judgements with lost cases due to procedural or technical issues, we risk training a set of lawyers who will never know the meaning of justice. In most advanced countries, well known lawyers would not want to be identified with Saraki’s case even if he offers half of his stolen wealth.
  - Genusa
    
    The Judges are meant to follow what the law and constitution states. CCB law states you must first invite a person for clarification if you feel there is error in asset declared. No one invited Saraki for clarification, and it is 13years after. Unfortunately, the prosecution did not present a water-tight case.
    - persona
      
      Ever heard of reasonable doubt? That is the template for normal judgement.
      Saraki has proven beyond reasonable doubt that every chance he had to do the right thing with his CCB forms was never taken. He broke money laundry laws, he evaded tax and there is a clear indication that state funds were converted.
      The fact that EFFC was used then to initiate an investigation into him does not negate this case. Saraki had financial crimes and the body charged with that is EFCC. CCB is charged with verification of the claimed assets and they may seek help from any government agency to help them do that. Case in point, Ministry of Finance can use FIRS, customs etc to get the proper revenue.
      - Genusa
        
        May be you should read this(Agabi is Saraki’s lawyer):
        
        Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau. He told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.
        
        Agabi said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.
        
        Agabi recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was accused of false declaration of assets but was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfil necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.
        
        According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
        
        Agabi who was a former AGF and minister of Justice also recalled of ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after tacking explanations on their declared assets. He there urged the tribunal to dismiss the charge against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.
      - persona
        
        Are you aware every lawyer always have something to say even when their client is obviously guilty?
        The fact he was not invited, same happened to Tinubu, he took his plea and got into the box without going all the way to the supreme court only to begin all over again.
        He should quit all these embarrassment and behave like a respecter of the law as a lawmaker.
        Imagine, where will have the temerity to summon a Lamorde to appear before the same NASS?
        The issue here is, he could win his case on technicality, let the case begin and let him prove himself a respecter of the law he is paid to make.
        Reasonable doubt will still come to play when the judge weighs the case. The manner in which he was served is not the only angle, it will be part of it, it may help his case but that is not the case. He has said the case is persecution,. he has said it happened over 13 years ago, he has said he has forgotten all that happened and same with regards to the documents BUT he knows the houses and properties are his. He should take the stand, tell answer the questions and possibly the world will see his point.
        You need to read the response of Jacobs to Agabi in court that day, he said he represented same Agabi on several cases and the same laws were applied to which he is seeking should be done away with and that is embarrassing to a man who was once the chief law officer of this country seeking laws should be suspended because it doesn’t favor his client. I admonish you to get the transcript of Jacobs then you will see that Agabi’s case stands on nothing.
      - tony
        
        Are you Saraki`s lawyer or better put, did you benefit from the loot? Enough of this your copy and paste. If we continue like this Nigeria will still be seen as the most corrupt country in the World. Small Advocate of Naija
      - Genusa
        
        What about Tinubu? The same CCB judge discharged Tinubu, for the reason that Tinubu was not first invited by the CCB to explain and make statement on false assets declaration. The judge that discharged Tinubu based on that reason, is the same judge handling Saraki’s case. Saraki’s lawyer is now asking the judge to likewise discharge Saraki since Saraki too was not first invited by CCB to explain and make statements. What is good for Tinubu is good for Saraki. Will the judge now contradict himself?
      - Julius
        
        he must be hired for propaganda purposes. He is working hard for his pay. I can read him from oceans away.lolz
    - Julius
      
      He is having his chance now to clarify whatever he is being accused of in court . So, why is he running from court to court trying not to clarify anything ? He should be more than happy to be in court and answer some questions tpo clear his name. Abi. Nonsense !
      - Genusa
        
        Read this(Agabi is Saraki’s lawyer):
        
        Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau. He told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.
        
        Agabi said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.
        
        Agabi recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was accused of false declaration of assets but was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfil necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.
        
        According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
        
        Agabi who was a former AGF and minister of Justice also recalled of ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after tacking explanations on their declared assets. He there urged the tribunal to dismiss the charge against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.
      - Julius
        
        Remember this , Agabi was hired to do his job like a lawyer. Any lawyer thats worth the paper his/her certs is printed on will do the same. That doesnt make him right when all is said and done. He will be charged with malpractice if he is not saying that nonsense.
      - Genusa
        
        The same CCB judge discharged Tinubu, for the reason that Tinubu was not first invited by the CCB to explain and make statement on false assets declaration. The judge that discharged Tinubu based on that reason, is the same judge handling Saraki’s case. Saraki’s lawyer is now asking the judge to likewise discharge Saraki since Saraki too was not first invited by CCB to explain and make statements. What is good for Tinubu is good for Saraki. Will the judge now contradict himself?
      - Julius
        
        Somebody should have told you that each case has its own merit, right or wrong. Yapping about Tinubu doesnt hold water at all. Find something else to argue about. I understand that you have to earn your pay but, your jibbrish is boring and annoying.
      - joe
        
        Thank you my brother! Why doesn’t Saraki go to court and prove his innocence and shame his accusers instead of hiring brainless E-rats (who kept asking us to “Read this” and “Read that”) and criminal SANs,
      - Julius
        
        Because he knows he is guilty of all the charges. Let him keep paying all the SANs he can get. At the end of the day, he will be found guilty.
  - persona
    
    “He failed to utilise every next opportunity to correct previous mistakes. Besides he will be arraigned for money laundering and moving large sums of government money into his personal account.”
    The two sentences above is the clincher and it thus exposes Saraki as an unrepentant criminal. Umar stands to right the wrong or EFCC, FIRS will swing in and open a new door since EFCC did the initial investigation.
  - Genusa
    
    You should read this, as you appear not to be following the matter (Agabi is Saraki’s lawyer):
    
    Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau. He told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.
    
    Agabi said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.
    
    Agabi recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was accused of false declaration of assets but was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfil necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.
    
    According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
    
    Agabi who was a former AGF and minister of Justice also recalled of ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after tacking explanations on their declared assets. He there urged the tribunal to dismiss the charge against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.
  - Julius
    
    You are correct . In most advance countries, his lawyers would have advice him to work something out with the EFCC, something like a plead bargain and refund whatever he stole. That would have been the patriotic thing to do but, we dont have patriots.
- Muhammad Ajagbe
  
  Where were you since all this while. Saraki himself would have hired you instead of begging VP n Jagaban to have him soft landing. You be JJC my brother. He don pass ur level, even e don pass anything you think. Small advocate of Nigeria.
  - Genusa
    
    Judges are meant to follow what the law and constitution states. CCB law states you must first invite a person for clarification if you feel there is error in asset declared. No one invited Saraki for clarification, and it is 13years after. Unfortunately, the prosecution did not present a water-tight case.
    - joe
      
      Even beggars can dream :))
      - Genusa
        
        Joe, I guess you are not following the case properly. The same judge Umar freed Tinubu when Tinubu faced the CCB. Umar said Tinubu was not called first by the CCB to give statement to accept or deny. Saraki’s lawyer Agabi, is now asking the same judge Umar to apply the same judgement as he applied in Tinubu’s case, since Saraki too was not first invited by the CCB to give explanation before moving him to trial. Read this and learn from me, you don’t argue by calling names. You show your intelligence by stating the fact of what you know. Read and learn broda for your own knowledge:
        
        Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau. He told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.
        
        Agabi said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.
        
        Agabi recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was accused of false declaration of assets but was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfil necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.
        
        According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
        
        Agabi who was a former AGF and minister of Justice also recalled of ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after tacking explanations on their declared assets. He there urged the tribunal to dismiss the charge against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.
  - Ade
    
    Lol pls.dont killing me. Small advocate of nigeria
  - Genusa
    
    I guess you should read this, as you appear to be ignorant of what is going on in the case(Agabi is Saraki’s lawyer):
    
    Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau. He told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.
    
    Agabi said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.
    
    Agabi recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was accused of false declaration of assets but was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfil necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.
    
    According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
    
    Agabi who was a former AGF and minister of Justice also recalled of ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after tacking explanations on their declared assets. He there urged the tribunal to dismiss the charge against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.
- joe
  
  Even beggars can dream 🙂
  - Genusa
    
    I guess you are not following the case properly. The same judge Umar freed Tinubu when Tinubu faced the CCB. Umar said Tinubu was not called first by the CCB to give statement to accept or deny. Saraki’s lawyer Agabi, is now asking the same judge Umar to apply the same judgement as he applied in Tinubu’s case, since Saraki too was not first invited by the CCB to give explanation before moving him to trial. Read this and learn from me, you don’t argue by calling names. You show your intelligence by stating the fact of what you know. Read and learn broda for your own knowledge:
    
    Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau. He told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.
    
    Agabi said that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.
    
    Agabi recalled the trial of former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was accused of false declaration of assets but was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfil necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.
    
    According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
    
    Agabi who was a former AGF and minister of Justice also recalled of ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after tacking explanations on their declared assets. He there urged the tribunal to dismiss the charge against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law.
    - Watch man
      
      Let us look at it this way. Should we therefore say that because of error committed by Mr Umar, Saraki (who has a case to answer) should go free? In my opinion, one way I think should be the way forward should be for the judge to order the CCB to investigate the matter and if Saraki is found wanting, the case should go on. Although Saraki claims to be innocent, why then would he be running around to stop the case instead of proving his innocence? This case might even go on throughout the tenure of this govt and nothing will end up coming out of it; then the only benefactors would be the criminal lawyers and SANs’. What a pity!
      - A Aminu
        
        But what an, the CCT is not an appeallate court but a first instance court and can only rule based on what the prosecution prayed it should rule. It is left to the EFCC to appeal at the court of appeal and pray that CCB be compelled to invite Saraki. Umar did not commit the error of not inviting Saraki. CCB committed the error, and the Tribunal must rule based on what is before it. When you are proving your innocent in court you explore all avenues including technical before going on factual.
      - Watch man
        
        Thanks for the insight!
      - A Aminu
        
        You are welcome watch man. Keep on watching, you will see.
    - A Aminu
      
      Why waste your time on someone who has no manners, and resort to use of abusive language on you. We are following your arguments. I reason with you on these issues of failure of CCB to invite Saraki and precedence set by the CCT in discharging Tinubu on the failure of CCB to invite him and explain. The other issue of judicial delegation of power is absent in the law that established the CCB. Only CCB and not the EFCC, the AGF or ICPC has the power to initiate prosecution. Saraki has a case, and the defense will most likely find it difficult to win this angle of defense. But let’s see. Is only tomorrow, when Danladi Umar has the task to rule.
      - joe
        
        Tomorrow is here, A. Aminu (SAN) and Danladi Umar has the ruled: You are as wrong today as you were yesterday! Your lazy and shallow argument does not hold water.
      - A Aminu
        
        Why don’t you wait for the altimate? Danladi has ruled some hours ago, but we will see Kanu Agabi will appeal. He has the right of appeal and if you honestly reason, without sentiment, whatever set Tinubu free of CCT will set Saraki free. The CCB did not follow the procedures as laid by the Act. I will laugh Lauder than you at the appeal court. Meet you there.
      - joe
        
        Alright. We wait “for the altimate”. And we shall see who laughs “Laudest” 🙂
  - Julius
    
    hahahahahaa, the dude is trying to earn his pay. He is working hard for the money. You know since SR has been spanking their asses, they have employed some people to fight their losing battle online. I think this dude is one of them.
- ramalan
  
  I am not exactly a fan of the Senate president but you’ve made a lot of sense to me. Facts matter!!
Dat-Abdulahi

As sensible as the notion to unite the party sounds, these lot most likely are up to no good! Let’s ignore these sleazy politicians and focus our attention squarely on the possibly compromised chairman of the CCT (Justice Danladi Umar), the meeting he allegedly had with Kanu Agabi in Saudi while on lesser hajj might just be yielding dividend after all! Makes me wonder if Saudi wasn’t supposed to be a holy ground for these animals?!!…….a little birdie once told me “imamu na gbaladun, pope na…….”!!

Danladi Umar, this is your opportunity to show us (Nigerians) what side of history you want to belong, the choice is yours.
Sambo

Reading through the lips of these senators, I can only but conclude that the so-called unity apc senators are fighting for their selfish interests. Not just for the unity of the party that will foster growth and development of the economy but seeking for avenue to protect themselves from future re-occurrence of similar case like that of saraki.
Truthometer

Who cares if anything happens to Saraki? Where is the love for the country here?
Muhammad Ajagbe

Let them unite so if eventually Mr don loose his seat, PDPig would not think Eke (Lies) would last. We need all able hand for now, forget differences and let’s see positive outcome of this. More grease to the elbow of those that strived hard to make naija great again. Amin
JSA1

SHAMELESS SENATORS! AFTER DAMAGING APC AND ITS LEADERS, WHAT SORT OF USELESS UNITY. WHAT OUT AND SEE WHAT WILL FOLLOW. YOUR DISUNITY HAS GIVEN YOUR ENEMIES BEFORE THE 2015 ELECTIONS GOOD GROUND TO FIGHT YOU IN 2019. ITS TOO LATE.
shola

“This man (Saraki) is in court and anything can happen.”
“So APC Senators must come together and unite; otherwise,
if anything happens to Saraki in the court PDP Senators who are very united may take over the Senate.”
Nothing but partisan politics. What a calamity, that our parliamentarian would be reminded of their loyalty to their party and their constituency, in the interest of the unity in the party and its leadership.
Waiting to read how many hired senators from his (Saraki’s) APC will match with Saraki to the next court hearing.
olat

Saraki will resign as Senate President in coming week’s n absconds on Medical ground.
QDouglas

Just wait for these rogues. The plan was already laid for Saraki to be free. Just wait for it, matter of time.
QDouglas

And focus on the meeting of Tinubu, Oyegun, Osinbajo and Saraki when Buhari was absent. Series of secret meetings of Abrakadabra. I am waiting to see the outcome of the case. My hunch is, Saraki will be acquitted. Dishonest bunch!
OmoLasgidi

Chop chop Senators.. they agreed to back Saraki for juicy Senate commitee seats, and let Saraki walk free? Ole, Barawo… Saraki’s case is with Nigerians and Kwarans… the man is going down… the mind boggling looting is too sickening…
- Tunsj
  
  I was thinking the exact same thing. Excellent post!
New Nigerian

Saraki knows he is guilty. Every poster here – bar none!, knows he is guilty on all charges. The facts says he is guilty, facts are facts. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, no one – including Saraki and his bright minded lawyers are entitled to their facts. Saraki is guilty before men. He is guilty before God. He can do the right thing – take a guilty plea, take his beatings and refund whatever money is not his (to Kwara people) and stand a better chance of redemption before men and God. If he insists on dragging this out to the bitter end – he will receive justice, whether he likes it or not, before men and God. So if he is smart, he would actually show up in court and plead guilty – stopping the charade – and then stand before God in his private moments and repent his evil ways. He can be redeemed, but he need to show humility (or he will be humbled – whether he likes it or not), he need to pay back stolen wares (or it will be taken from him – whether he likes it of not). Those who egg him onto self-destruction through fighting this to the bitter end, would bring out the long knives on him when the time comes – so if anyone know him – they should point my comment to him, as I continue to believe he can be redeemed. It will take leaving this senate (he may go to Jail except he enters into a plea anyway), going back to Ilorin and actually know his people and re-emerge more like an Idiagbon persona of forthright, straight dealings (which is a better brand coming from Ilorin). Those egging him on know they are next, as most of them have done exactly what Saraki did when they were governers in their various state -as this was pdplutocrats way of stealing the commonwealth that was not theirs so they would be Oligarchs!
Oladeji Y

These ex governors constituting the Saraki group knows if Saraki falls they with similar cases with EFCC will go down the same way. So they will leave no stone unturned to try to save him and in effect themselves.
goodboy

uniting to loot the treasury the more.
Omooba A

The heading for the article is misleading. Backing down means that the opposing senators agree with Saraki manipulative tendencies. Reading the whole article proved that this is not the case as no backing down done. Putting aside the differences between the two camps for the sake of the country is not backing down from whatever they believed was right. As for the Like mind senators, they share the same attitude with Saraki and don’t care if the country perished yesterday. They are in politics for themselves and what they could loot from the national treasury. For these will-dilly senators, their judgement is at hand and they will all reap what they sow.
James

Nothing group may have given conditions that are not realistic. On Thursday will come and pass but the difference will persist, like it or not.
emmanuel

Poor journalism here.
What they have done if for the Unity forum to bury very lethal land mines for the Like mind Senators for their eventual outsting of Saraki.
The plot is thick. The you hear them/ in the event that anything happen to Saraki at the CCT and it would happen soon, because after tomorrow’s judgement, the CCT will undertake speedy trial and Judgement. Though Saraki will not go to jail, but will become a convict of a sort!
Jacky

The APC Senators are getting ready to shop for a compromise-replacement for Saraki, simple!
- Julius
  
  Lets hope so !
Fula

UNITING FOR THEIR OWN INTEREST ALONE. ITS NEVER ABOUT US. SO I DONT GIVE A DAMN….
Prophet

This is the height of shameless arrogance! How can a single individual, especially one in Saraki’s shoes allow himself to become such grave a problem for the whole country?

He is only 3 heartbeats away from the Presidency but knows nothing about why he is there. A Patriot would recognize that he is a public servant and in situations like this, will sacrifice himself rather than become a problem for the country.

Saraki is not innocent, yet he refuses to step down even when it is clear he is no longer able to perform his duties. He is the type that will sit down with his beverage and watch the country burn as long as no mosquito touches him. He has no business being in Government. Shameless boy!
duwdu

At times, Premium Times just choses to distort a story by using a dubious headline…

The body of the story shows that the APC senators actually CLOSED RANK to save their party from, among other things, losing control of the chamber, especially should anything (a political misfortune, say,) happen to Saraki; not that one group “backed down” for the other.

In any case, the resolutions reportedly arrived at by the meeting, are clearly aimed at correcting some of the political instability, disgrace, and structural distortions in the Senate brought about ostensibly by Saraki’s actions. In fact, there was apparently nothing said against what their party’s positions have been all along.

Premium Times colorations to a story ehn, chei.

P34c3
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Lawchuks Kelechimereze

Ironically, APC Senators re coming together to re-strategize their next gimics of party interest & to themselves while Nigerias who voted them into Pawer are terribly suffering with all commodities prices on the increase. This to me they are like the proverbial adage” the winetarper’s naked exposed no longer give to his palmwine,”bench of corruptionists!