Saraki must step aside, TUC insists

The Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress on Monday insisted that Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, should step aside. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation is prosecuting Saraki for alleged false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Bureau. Saraki had, last Tuesday, stepped into the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, where he was arraigned on charges bordering on false declaration of assets. He pleaded not guilty to all the 13 charges brought against him by the CCB and his trial would hold on October 21, 22 and 23. Some organisations, including labour unions, had already called for Saraki’s resignation from office. Speaking with our correspondent in Enugu, the Chairman of the TUC in Enugu State, Chukwuma Igbokwe, insisted that Saraki should step aside, pending the conclusion of his trial at the CCT. Igbokwe said Saraki could interfere with the judicial process if he remained in the position. According to him, any public office holder that has been arraigned before a court on corruption charges should step aside, until the conclusion of trial. Igbokwe said, “Any public officer that is found to be corrupt should vacate the position, or step aside to allow the judicial process take its course. If he continues to occupy the position, he can subvert the course of justice. “Now that he (Saraki) has taken his plea, he should step aside, pending when he is found guilty, or acquitted.” The labour leader added that the rule of law must be allowed to prevail in Saraki’s trial. Igbokwe said, “Nobody is above the law – he should vacate the office for now and wait for the rule of law to take its course. “In the current administration’s anti-corruption campaign, nobody should be spared. There should be no sacred cows and those in sensitive positions should step aside if they have been accused of corruption and taken to court.”