The Supreme Court had, on February 5, 2016 dismissed Saraki’s appeal, challenging his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) . The Senate President was arraigned by the Federal Government on a 13-count charge, bordering on false assets declaration and in his bid to stop his trial, rushed to the Appeal Court, which ruled that he should go back to the Tribunal to face his trial. Not satisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, Saraki appealed to the Supreme Court, asking it to set aside the decision of the Appellate court. A seven-panel of justices of the apex court, headed by Justice Walter Onnoghen, in the judgement of the court, held that the Tribunal has quasi criminal jurisdiction to ensure public probity and accountability of public office holders. The court held that it was legal for the Tribunal to assume jurisdiction over the trial of the Senate President, charged with false asset declaration, without one of its members. “In conclusion, I find no merit in the appeal and it is accordingly dismissed. The judgment of the lower court delivered on the 30th day of October 2015, dismissing the appeal of the appellant against the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal of 18th September, 2015 is hereby affirmed”, Justice Onnoghen held. Saraki’s appeal was against the October 30, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which dismissed an earlier appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him for alleged false declaration of assets. Saraki was arraigned before the Tribunal on September 22, 2015 on a 13-count charge after much resistance from the Senate President, prompting the Tribunal to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and challenged the power of the CCT to try him, the composition of the Tribunal and the legality of the charge, which he said was not endorsed by the Attorney general of the Federation (AGF). In its judgment on October 30, a three-man panel of the appellate court, in a split decision of two-to-one held that Saraki’s appeal lacked merit.]]>