Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has denied reports that he
bribed Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar to the tune
of $2 million to obtain victory in his ruling yesterday.
Recall that the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja on
Wednesday ruled that Saraki has no case to answer in the 18 charge of
non-declaration of assets brought against him by the Federal Government.
The judgement has generated a lot of controversies and
comments from Nigerians.
However, an report by an online news outlet,
SaharaReporters, alleged that a cash payment of a whopping $2 million went to
CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar.
The newspaper claimed that a source close to the CCT
revealed to them how Saraki and his lawyer, former Attorney General Kanu Agabi,
had worked relentlessly since Saraki hired him, with the objective of stopping
the trial one way or another.
It alleged that Agabi had formed a close relationship with
Umar, whom he had hired out of Law School years ago to work in his private
legal practice following his tenure as Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.
It further alleged that Umar’s brother, Sambo Umar, also
worked with Agabi during his tenure as AGF.
Also alleging that a first meeting facilitated by former
Governor of Bauchi state, Isa Yuguda in Abuja, Saraki reportedly offered the
CCT chairman $2m to acquit him of the false declaration charges he faced.
The newspaper added that Saraki did not speak the words
during the alleged transaction but showed the figure to Mr. Umar typed on his
phone, fearing that if he said the figure out loud he could be recorded.
Reacting, however, Saraki’s media aide, Bankole Omishore,
told DAILYPOST that Chief Editor and owner of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore
came up with the allegation after his demand of $1 million from his principal
was turned down.
According to him, “That guy [Sowore] is a liar! That’s how
he goes about causing confusions here and there with fake, indefensible
reports.
“He told Saraki to give him $1 million which the senate
President didn’t understand why he should give him such amount of money and
what it was meant for.
“Refusal to give him $1 million led him to publishing
reports he cannot defend. If he has anything tangible to back up his claims,
let him present it to the appropriate quarters.”
By John Owen Nwachukwu
