Saraki’s Trial Won’t End At CCT, Says Melaye

Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi
west, on Saturday said the alleged false
assets declaration trial of Senate President
Bukola Saraki will go from the Code of
Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to the supreme
court.
Speaking after the Rotary Club of Ilorin
conferred an award on him, Melaye said it
was evident that the trial was political.
He declared unalloyed support for Saraki,
saying many senators were behind the
nation’s number three citizen.
“One thing I want to assure Nigerians is
that the trial of Saraki will not end in the
CCT, but in the Supreme Court and we are
with the Senate president until we get to
the last bus stop,” he said.
“We are with him up till Supreme Court.
Our support for the senate president is total
and undiluted. This is a battle of no
retreat, no surrender.”
He also spoke in a manner suggesting that
there will be a showdown with the
executive over the 2016 budget.
The lawmaker called on his colleagues to
ensure full implementation of the budget.
“What is more important is not the signing
of the budget but its implementation. May
we never see a situation where only 30 per
cent of capital projects is implemented,” he
said.
“I am using this opportunity to plead with
my colleagues in the national assembly to
make sure that our committees function
properly and do a very holistic oversight and
see to the implementation of this budget
and pray that the executive becomes born
again by doing the right thing.
“We look forward to making sure that the
national assembly with all sincerity of
purpose carries out monitoring of the MDAs
to make sure that this budget is properly
implemented.”
This is not the first time that Melaye will
declare open support for Saraki.
Last month, he said only death would
prevent him from supporting the senate
president.