Judge Withdraws From Saraki’s Case over Integrity

Abuja Federal High Court Judge, Justice Abdukadir Abdu-Kafarati has withdrawn from the case brought before him following media reports that he has been compromised by Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Saraki, who is facing criminal prosecution by the Code of Conduct Bureau, had filed a petition urging the court to stop his false assets declaration trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

However, a recent report by Sahara Reporters had insinuated that Saraki had bribed Justice Abdu-Kafarati.

The Judge in a bid to uphold his integrity, the Honorable Judge on Tuesday, disqualified himself from the case.

He said: “If I grant the prayers of the applicant. The reading public will say yes, the judge has been compromised. If I refuse the prayers, they will say the judge has been threatened or intimidated.”

“The most honourable thing for me to do is to disqualify myself from this case. I hereby disqualify myself from this case and the file is returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment.”

Saraki, who had emerged as the senate president through a means that was considered unsavory by his political party, the All Progressive Congress, had severally posited that his trial was politically motivated.