Saraki: Appeal Court adjourns ruling (Updated)

Justice Moore Adumein of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Friday adjourned ruling on the appeal brought by Senate President, Bukola Saraki to Monday, October 19.

Saraki through his counsel, J.B.L Ufoh, is challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), to try him for alleged false declaration of assets, after an order from the Federal High Court had asked for a stay of proceedings.

Ufoh had stated that the CCT was not a superior court to the Federal High Court and therefore urged the court to set aside all proceedings, including the charge against Senator Saraki on the grounds that the tribunal was not properly constituted.

Read also: Judge backs out from Saraki’s trial

But the Federal Government through its counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN has said that five witnesses are ready to appear on October 21, to testify and tender exhibits against Saraki.

Among those billed to give oral testimony and tender exhibits against Saraki on October 21, when the CCT trial continues, is former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and current governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Jacobs told the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday that it has sufficient evidence to establish that Saraki, as a public officer, acquired several assets beyond his legitimate earnings, and operated foreign accounts

El-Rufai is expected to testify that he was the one who sold one of the assets that Saraki bought in Abuja which the government alleged he failed to list among the assets he acquired while in office as the governor of Kwara State.

Jacobs also told the court that Saraki has already been furnished with all the proofs of evidence against him, including copies of four separate  assets declaration forms that he earlier submitted before the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

Jacobs urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal that Saraki lodged before it and order him to go to the CCT and clear his name.

But Saraki, through his team of lawyers led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN aside challenging the charges, also queried the constitutionality of the warrant of arrest initially issued against him by Chairman of the CCT, Justice Danladi Umar.

He urged the court to intervene and protect him from what he described as “a politically motivated witch-hunt.”

He specifically urged the appellate court to suspend the proceeding of the tribunal pending the hearing and determination of the substantive appeal against the CCT.

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