Saraki Gets Another Clean bill From Supreme Court

Former Senate President, Sen Bukola Saraki has commended the recent Supreme Court judgment, which overturned the Federal High Court’s 2018 decision regarding an alleged N3.5bn fraud case against Melrose General Services Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on April 27, 2018, secured judgment for the final forfeiture of N1.4billion which it claimed a firm, Melrose General Services Limited, obtained from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through false claims.

Melrose is allegedly linked to Saraki, who was facing a political battle with some highly placed personalities within the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressive Congress government.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of Justice Cecilia Olatoregun, and the Court of Appeal which in May 2019, resolved the four contentious issues in favour of the EFCC, Melrose General Services approached the Supreme Court for redress, asking it to set aside the pronouncement of the lower courts.

Delivering judgment on Friday, June 7, the Supreme Court panel led by Justice Akomaye Agim (SC 1519/2019) set aside the judgments of the lower courts and ruled in favour of the appellant, Melrose General Services.

But in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said the Supreme Court verdict attested to his earlier position that the case had some political undertones and was strategically launched to witchhunt him.

He said the legal suit was a proxy war, aimed at persecuting him, undermining his political career, and tarnishing his reputation.

Punch