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Saraki’s trial: CCT adjourns to await A’Court

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Breaking! Saraki's trial commences at Code of Conduct Tribunal

In from Timothy Enietan-Matthews . . .

In what seems to be turning out to be a game of who blinks first, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) hearing the charges of false declaration of assets against Senate President Bukola Saraki, has postponed further hearing on the case to November 5 and 6, 2016.

According to the CCT chairman, Justice Danladi Umar the adjournment is to await the ruling of the Appeal Court where Saraki is challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him for alleged false declaration of assets.

However, the Court of Appeal had on Monday, October 19 adjourned indefinitely judgement in the suit instituted by the Senate President, against the power of the CCT to try him.

The Registrar of the Court of Appeal, who made the announcement on Monday, gave no reason for the decision.

Saraki also challenged the composition of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which has only two members instead of three, adding that since the tribunal did not sit in compliance with the constitutional provision of three members, his arraignment should be declared invalid.

Read also: Saraki: A’Court adjourns verdict indefinitely

Earlier,  Nigerians who had expected to watch the trial of Saraki at the CCT, live on television, had their hopes dashed, as the Tribunal, Justice Umar, barred live coverage of the trial.

CCT’s Assistant Chief Registrar, Mr. Bintu Garba, told reporters that they could not take photographs or record the proceedings live.

According to Garba, he was acting on Justice Umar’s instructions.

In what appeared like an unprecedented show of solidarity, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu led about 28 other Senators to accompany the Senate President to the Tribunal

Saraki is facing a 13-count criminal charge bordering on false declaration of assets preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau before the Tribunal.

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