Dr Bukola Saraki has finally appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal today following the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest on Monday. The trial which attracted wide public interest, has also taught us some lessons about the Nigerian Judiciary.
Here are five things we learnt from #SarakiOnTrial
1. The ban on live coverage could encourage less transparency
Earlier this morning, The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) ordered that live coverage of the Tribunal proceedings should be banned. Nigerian TV stations Channels and TVC enjoyed unfettered access to covering and broadcasting the proceedings until the announcement was made this morning.
In what is perhaps the most talked-about criminal trial of the year, Nigerians deserve to be kept abreast of events as they unfold. The CCT previously had no problem with the press, leading citizens to wonder what happened this time around. The order sparked a lot of outrage as citizens wondered if the CCT had anything to hide. While the practice of banning proceedings is not new in the country, the ban contextualizes why a lot of tribunal proceedings in Nigeria cannot be adjudged free or fair.
All this might seem like speculation, but in light of reports which establish the vehemence with which the CCT opposed live coverage, including cutting off power, there are questions to be answered. In the current battle against corruption in Nigeria, there is too much riding on the charges against Dr. Bukola Saraki for justice to not be served this time around.
2. Dr. Saraki’s claim that he was unaware of charges seems a little too good to be true
During the course of the proceedings, Dr. Saraki insisted that he was not previously aware of the charges brought against him, and was just hearing a lot of them for the first time in court.
The 13 counts of corruption, which included false declaration of assets and conversion of government property, have been all over the news since the charges were first made by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). It is inconceivable to think that Dr. Saraki did not assuage his curiosity or talk with his lawyer about the presumed offences he was appearing in court for.
3. What his ‘not-guilty’ plea means
After the charges were read against Dr. Saraki at the Tribunal, he pleaded not guilty to all 13 of them. The Constitution of Nigeria guarantees him a right to innocence until he is proven guilty by the Tribunal, and this will not happen unless the prosecution can prove their case against him beyond all reasonable doubt.
4. Nigerians are happy with proceedings
The fact that Bukola Saraki’s trial is following the viral “Change” slogan of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is proof for most Nigerians that the end of corruption in the country is nigh. Social media took a vested interest in Saraki’s trial with the hashtag #SarakiOnTrial where many expressed their opinion on the on-going proceedings. People remained undeterred by the lack of live coverage and got the information they needed from news agencies that provided live updates.
It appears, however, that a lot of citizens have deemed Saraki guilty even before he entered the courtroom.
5. The defendant’s counsel claims court date is too short to prepare a defence
Dr. Saraki’s counsel pleaded with the court to grant him more time to get Dr. Saraki up to speed on charges against him and also prepare a defence. According to reports, the defendant’s counsel and the prosecutor agreed on October 21 – 23 for the final hearing of the case. However, the counsel has expressed unhappiness at the new court date which is one month away, claiming it is “too short”.
It is no secret that Nigerians do not have a lot of faith in the judiciary or in the government successfully prosecuting corruption, but it appears that this time citizens are willing to see it to the end.
As the defendant’s counsel has become steadily notorious for frustrating and impeding judicial proceedings, many Nigerians are already predicting that the Tribunal might end up being a waste of time and resources. We can only hope that the adjournment of Saraki’s trial does not mark the beginning of a long and tiring judicial dance that yields nothing in the end.
