The efforts by Senate President Bukola Saraki to avoid appearing before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, to face corruption charges was dealt a blow when the Court of Appeal on Monday refused his application to have the arrest warrant issued by the tribunal set aside.

The court told Saraki that appearing before the tribunal is not a death sentence.

The Senate President refused to appear before the CCT for his trial on Friday, prompting the tribunal to issue a bench warrant against the Senate President.

However, Saraki’s counsel, Adebayo Adelodun approached the Appeal Court to prevent the police from or other security agents from arresting him.

While striking out the application on Monday, Justice Morrie Adumein said: “By Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 as amended, the court has the general powers to interim injunctions.

“However, by Order 7 Rule 1 of the Court of Appeal Rules for us to exercise our general powers the application shall be by way on notice. It is not in the habit of this court to interfere in the ‎proceeding of a lower court when the other parties have not been heard.

“The end of the matter is that this application is hereby refused.”

The Code of Conduct Tribunal meanwhile has insisted on Saraki’s appearance to answer to the 13-count charge latest by Tuesday (tomorrow).

“‎It is in the interest of justice that this tribunal must take a position. Our position is that the accused must be compelled to appear before us.

“In this regard, we reaffirm our order on bench warrant that the Inspector General of Police or any other security agents must arrest and produce the accused in court tomorrow (Tuesday),” DanladiUmar, chairman of the tribunal said.