From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Federal Government has appealed a ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which acquitted Senate President, Bukola Saraki, last week.
Subsequently, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, has authorised the appeal, to demonstrate government’s total commitment to the war against corruption.
Malami, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, dismissed insinuations that he has not demonstrated commitment to the anti-corruption war.
The minister, through a private prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and a lawyer in the AGF office has filed 11 grounds notice of appeal against Saraki’s acquittal, describing the CCT’s judgment as unreasonable.
The statement was jointly signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah, and the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution (AGF Office), Mr. Okoi Obono-Obla. It was a reaction to a media report (not Daily Sun) in which a member of the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Femi Odekunle, had, at an event on Saturday in Abuja, raised questions about the AGF’s anti-corruption war.
The AGF maintained that despite some recent setbacks suffered by the anti-corruption war, the fight would continue to be fought “resolutely, painstakingly, doggedly, purposefully and determinedly with all the constitutional and legal arsenals at the disposal of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
He said to demonstrate that, he was “fully and completely committed, dedicated and supports the war against corruption”, he authorised the filing of the appeal against Saraki’s acquittal by the CCT. The AGF wishes to assure Nigerians that despite some recent setbacks recorded in some of the cases involving politically exposed people; the war against corruption is fully on course.
“The federal government is more than ever before committed towards the complete eradication of the scourge of corruption and graft in the country….”
Regardless, Saraki’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said his principal has not been served of such process.
“We’re not aware of the notice,” Olaniyonu said yesterday.