Alleged False Assets Declaration: Saraki’s Trial Stalled

The trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki on alleged false assets declaration has failed to commence.

At the resumed hearing of the suit, counsel to the Senate President, Kanu Agabi told the tribunal that he had a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

According to the motion, the Senate President is contending that the Attorney -General of the Federation cannot prosecute him.

Reacting to the information, Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the move was a delay tactic and an attempt to scuttle the trial.

According to him, the accused person knowing fully well that he is the prosecutor did not serve the application on him but instead served the Federal Ministry of Justice clearly indicating that they did not want trial to commence.

He told the court to dismiss the issue and go to the business of the day because he was ready for trial with his witnesses and evidence in tribunal.

However, Mr Agabi again told the tribunal that his application is a matter of law which must be settled before trial can commence.

Having listened to both parties, Chairman of the tribunal adjourned to March 18, 2016, to hear the motion and also commence with the trial.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal asked the defence lawyer to serve all the relevant processes to the prosecution before March 18, 2016.

The Supreme Court had on February 5, 2016 dismissed the appeal of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, against the judgment of the Appeal Court on his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on charges of false asset declaration.

A seven-man bench, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, gave the judgment that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over Saraki’s trial and has jurisdiction to try criminal matters.