Code Of Conduct Tribunal Adjourns Saraki’s Trial

The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, has been adjourned till November 5 and 6, 2015.

This followed a pending judgment of the Court of Appeal‎ on the trial of the Senate President by the Tribunal.

Saraki was dragged to the Tribunal over allegation of false declaration of assets by him while he was governor of Kwara State.

His trial was supposed to have started on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. He was at the Tribunal today for commencement of the trial until it was adjourned.

The Prosecuting counsel‎, Rotimi Jacobs, urged the Tribunal to shift the trial out of respect for the appeal court, which reserved judgment on the suit filed by Saraki to stop his trial, but his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, argued that the trial should be adjourned sine die.

In his judgement, Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, objected, stressing that the defendant might “go and relax”.

He therefore gave a two-week time-off, ruling that trial would continue on November 5 and 6.

Also, Saraki was ordered to take his seat in the accused box after his counsel failed to stop the action.

Magaji had made an application that the trial be halted on the grounds that there was a pending suit at the appeal court, which is yet to deliver judgment on the matter. ‎

But Jacobs countered his argument, stating that Saraki must take his seat in the accused box before any application could be made. The chairman thereafter ruled that Senate President should step into the accused box.