Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), has dismissed an application for adjournment filed by Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Ruling on the application on Tuesday, Umar held that the issue of jurisdiction of the tribunal had already been settled by the supreme court, hence a motion for adjournment based on an appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal at the appeal court was unnecessary.
He, therefore, ordered the prosecution to produce its witnesses, dismissing Saraki’s application.
Earlier, as proceedings began, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), counsel to the federal government, asked the court to commence trial, stating that all his witnesses were present.
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But Paul Usoro, Saraki’s lawyer, asked for an adjournment on the strength of a notice stay of proceedings filed at the tribunal.
He explained that the defendant was challenging the March 24 ruling of the tribunal, which allowed the continuation of the trial, at the appeal court.
He therefore urged the tribunal to adjourn the matter until the hearing and determination of the application at the appeal court. Usoro said that he was not asking for a stay of proceedings, but for an adjournment of the matter.
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But Jacobs argued that both terms were the same thing.
“After he filed a notice of appeal. He also on his own filed a record of appeal at the appeal court, which is supposed to be confirmed by the tribunal and then forwarded to the court of appeal. It is only when the tribunal fails to compile the record that the appellant is obliged to do it himself,” he said.
“The motion for stay of proceedings and motion for adjournment are the same thing.”
The prosecution counsel further argued that the supreme court had already given the tribunal a clean bill to proceed with the trial, hence it would amount to judicial rascality to disregard the order of the apex court.
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“The application for adjournment is a predicated on a false and void ground,” he held. “I urge your lordship to refuse this application for adjournment because it is becoming too much.”
The tribunal upheld his argument, and the trial commenced.
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[The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for alleged concealment of assets finally got under way yesterday in Abuja with the embattled senator expressing happiness that he now has an opportunity to clear his name.
The Senate President’s confidence probably arose from the first prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas’ testimony that Saraki’s naira account with one of the banks, which his team analysed, had an in-flow of about N4 billion, saying the major source of inflow into the account was a loan taken from Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB)within the period of 2005 and 2013.]
Sarki expresses happiness and confidence indeed after he tried to avoid being tried through the help of his very learned lawyers Mr. David or Joseph Adaudu and Kanu Agabi – You recall I said of Nigerian, whether leadership and administration should be carried by cowardice or through forthrightness? Here we are we appear to have arrived at the supposition in Saraki’s case and now with incessant visit of Obasanjo to Aso Villa! I said also thet Nigeria appears to be in a QUANDARY afflicting even the PhD holders – I mean if barristers of the the calibre you have in Nigeria can, in spite of what is happening elsewhere and in particular the kind of allegation against this man – Saraki, and they trod down to the CCT premises in defence for him well, could rightly urge and I said it already – God to help us in Nigeria! An’lla ka tamakemu agali Nijeria!
They tell us in their argument that Asewaju was absolved of the same crime therefore why should Saraki be arraigned but I am saying Ok, even at that stupid argument, why not we (I. e, the CCT) hear Saraki’s case and during the procedings/ trials they discover that his case is exactly similar with that of Asewaju Bola Tinubu then the Court might rule on his behalf but not for the lawyers to decide unilaterally – just like that! Further more if Asewaju’s case is truly similar then there is option for Saraki’s lawyers to insist on Asewaju’s case to be cited in their defence on grounds of what they now term in jurisprudence internationally as – ‘Double jeopardy case’, which means that where fresh evidences are discovered, the victim or culprit shall be recalled for trial since public crimes are not Statute barred! But to argue that Saraki’s case should be discontinued just like that they must be stupid and they require, like I said, to be barred from or tear gassing to stop them coming to the Court’s precinct! A whole educated, so we are told, lawyers cannot see the dangers in what they are doing because of one individual in the eyes of the laws in Nigeria that say – complete your ‘Declaration Form’ correctly and do not add what you do not own or subtract what you own so as to hide an information and you go on and add in anticipation what you hope to acquire!
About Obasanjo I have said he should not be allowed to keep calling at the Villa since it is not the practice for past HEADS OF STATE to keep calling so as to confuse the incumbent Heads – it is not the practice or there is the possibility of interfering with the practice and procedures of governance especially with the ‘change mantra’ of Buhari’s administration regarding corruption and other improprieties about Nigeria! And you wonder on one hand even Buhari blames the woes of Nigeria on 16 years of PDP and Obasanjo is part leader – in fact the head/king- pin of the party not Jonathan so, why should Obasanjo keep calling? I mean other countries are quizzing their ex-Heads of State it is only in Nigeria that they bluff you people including your leadership! I am saying in effect that you’re gradually going to end up with Obasanjo in the manner Jonathan did – OBJ should stop visiting Aso Villa in case there is need to probe his administration Buhari’s administration can do so without undue influence and distractions! For Saraki’s lawyers if Asewaju Bola Tinubu’s case is similar and you have fresh evidences to cite you might just as well add it in your defence otherwise what we have been told so far about Saraki is not only alarming but despicable in all its ramifications and people wondered here lies the reason why you are head-over-heels – not surprising, to defend the Senator if he is let off you’ll benefit financially from the