Summary Appeal court judge on Monday rejected Saraki's application for the summons to be overturned
ABUJA (AFP) - A Nigerian court on Monday rejected a request by the country s Senate president to overturn an order for him to appear before a lower court to answer allegations of corruption.
Bukola Saraki, who leads the upper chamber of parliament and is the third-highest politician in Nigeria after the president and vice-president, has been accused of making a false declaration of assets.
The Code of Conduct tribunal, a special court that tries such cases, on Friday ordered police to arrest Saraki after he failed to appear to answer 13 counts of corruption.
But appeal court judge Moore Adumein on Monday rejected Saraki s application for the summons to be overturned.
"It will be better to serve the interest of justice to put the respondents on notice. The application is hereby refused and struck out," he added.
Adumein ruled that upholding the application would effectively mean interfering in the proceedings of a lower court and urged the Senate president to attend.
"It is not a death sentence to appear before the Code of Conduct tribunal," he added.
The case is seen as a litmus test for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) of President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to power in May on anti-graft ticket.
Buhari and his deputy Yemi Osinbajo this month publicly declared their assets and other public figures, including lawmakers, are expected to follow suit.
Friday s case at the tribunal was adjourned until Monday for Saraki to appear but he was again absent.
Tribunal judge Danladi Umar said he still risked arrest if he did not turn up on Tuesday and rejected a defence request that the panel was not competent to sit.
