Politics
Saraki’s camp mad at CCT chair Umar over comment (Updated)
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has again, filed an application, asking the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself from further presiding over his ongoing trial.
The latest application is the second to be filed by Saraki, asking the CCT chairman to withdraw from his trial.
The latest application was filed by Saraki accusing Umar of bias based on the comment made by the tribunal chairman at the last proceeding on June 7, 2016, while warning the defence team against delay tactics.
Read also: CCT chairman, Saraki’s lawyer lash journalists
Umar, while responding to a complaint by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, during the June 7 proceedings, had said: “I am not happy at the delay tactics by the defence counsel and I must say this thing out that this delay tactics will not reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial.”
The statement, the Saraki team said, in the application filed by defence counsel, Kanu Agabi, would prejudice the outcome of the trial.
Meanwhile, the CCT has again adjourned the false declaration of assets trial of Saraki, till June 21.
The tribunal, at the resumed sitting on Wednesday, adjourned the case over the fresh motion filed by Saraki asking Umar, to disqualify himself from further presiding over the case.
Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, informed the tribunal of the motion which he said had yet to be opposed by the prosecution.
“We have a motion before your lordship. No processes opposing the motion have been served,” he said.
However, Pius Akuta, standing in for the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said the prosecution had some moments before the tribunal started sitting, filed its opposition to the motion.
Agabi thereafter asked for an adjournment to enable them file a response to the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution.
CCT chairman, Umar agreed with Agabi and fixed the hearing of the motion for June 21.
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