Saraki trial commences at Code of Conduct Tribunal (Updated)

Moves by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to stop the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) from going ahead with his prosecution over false assets declaration allegations has been dashed.

Saraki’s counsel had filed a motion of stay of proceedings before an appellate court, but the CCT on Tuesday ruled that it has jurisdiction in the case, and the natural thing to do is to proceed with the trial in spite of the request for an adjournment by counsel to the Senate President, Mr Paul Usoro.

The Tribunal stated that if the defence intends to appeal the judgment, it should not stop the proceedings of trial, provided the prosecution is ready to proceed, as it had adjourned to commence with trial today.

“In view of the foregoing we hold that trial shall proceed for hearing today and we are ready to take the witnesses,” the Tribunal said.

But Usoro argued that the prayer for adjournment is to essentially allow the Court of Appeal to entertain and arrive at a decision in the appeal, which it has graciously fixed a clear date of April 26, 2016 to hear.

Also, Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, said he was ready with his witnesses to commence trial, noting, that the defence is aware that what they are filing today cannot stop the proceedings.

He said that the request for an adjournment is not based on the motion served on the prosecution but on an application of stay of proceedings pending before the Court of Appeal.

The prosecutor maintained that the appeal filed by Saraki is illegal, backing his argument with Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

He argued that he was served with a motion on stay at 10:20AM on Tuesday morning and since he was not served before the start of the business of the day, it cannot obstruct the trial that has been fixed for same day.

After prosecutors called up its first witness, Micheal Wetkas, an EFCC investigator, the trial was adjourned to Wednesday April 6.

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