Politics
Jega’s death stalls Saraki’s appeal
The planned hearing before the Court of Appeal, Abuja in the case initiated by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki was interrupted on Tuesday owing to the death of the court’s Presiding Justice, Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega.
Justice Jega is one of the Nigerian pilgrims who died in the September 24 stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
Saraki is before the Court of Appeal to challenge the bench warrant issued against him by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on September 18.
The tribunal issued the order for Saraki’s arrest following his refusal to attend the tribunal in relation to the 13-count charge of false asset declaration brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
The Senate President is also challenging the competence of the CCT to order his arrest in relation to the charge, even when he is challenging the legitimacy of the charge.
Read also: Ex-INEC boss, Jega’s brother killed in Saudi stampede
Saraki had, on September 21, approached the Court of Appeal with an ex-parte application for an interim order to stay the execution of the bench warrant.
The court had ordered that the respondents be put on notice and for parties to return on September 29 for hearing of the motion on notice.
But when parties got to court yesterday, they were told the court has cancelled its businesses scheduled for yesterday in view of the death of its Presiding Justice.
Hearing in the case has been shifted to next Tuesday (October 6).
The CCT Chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar had, after Saraki’s arraignment on September 22, vacated the bench warrant issued on September 18, before adjourning further proceedings to October 21.
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