Politics
Drama as Saraki’s lawyers walk out on CCT proceedings
There was drama at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Thursday, as lawyers representing the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, staged a walk out on the Tribunal over its refusal to grant its prayer for a stay of proceeding in Saraki’s 13 count charge for false declaration of assets trial.
The lawyers include Saka Issau (SAN), Ahmed Raji (SAN) Mahmud Magaji (SAN) and 23 others.
Magaji said the tribunal’s decision to proceed with the case despite Saraki’s filing of an appeal at the Supreme Court, amounts to “judicial rascality.”
The Federal Government through its lawyer had told the Tribunal, that it is ready to open its case against Saraki.
Government lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the tribunal that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had in a judgment it delivered on October 30, dismissed Saraki’s appeal against his trial.
“My Lords all the contention as to the jurisdiction of the tribunal has been settled. The Appeal Court held that the charge was proper and the tribunal properly constituted to sit with two members.
“We have the Certified True Copy of that judgment. This matter was adjourned for report and for continuation of trial, we are ready”, Rotimi submitted.
Read also: Saraki must face trial by CCT, Appeal Court rules
However, Magaji urged the tribunal to adjourn the trial and await the decision of the appeal he has lodged before the Supreme Court.
He told the tribunal that his client also filed an application for the stay of further proceeding on the matter pending the determination of the appeal at the apex court.
He said that the CCT was notified of the pendency of the appeal before the Supreme Court via a letter that was addressed to its chairman on November 4, adding, that for the tribunal to proceed with hearing on the matter would amount to an affront and disrespect to the judicial hierarchy.
The Chairman of the CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, however described Saraki’s lawyers’ conduct as an act of disrespect to the court, adding that their walk out was unwarranted.
Danladi adjourned to November 19, with a provision that Saraki should engage a new set of lawyers before that date.
RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
German Police bust alleged Nigerian scam dating ring
German authorities have arrested eleven individuals suspected of being members of a Nigerian mafia group involved in a large-scale dating...
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...