Saraki's trial: Again, tribunal shifts final address adoption

macfranc007 February 28, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Jerrywright Ukwu

- A case involving Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, has been adjourned to Thursday, March 8

- The case is the federal government’s appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja to strike out some charges brought against Saraki

- The appeal is in relation to the ongoing Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for allegedly failing to declare his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)

The adoption of final address in the trial of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on charges of false asset declaration has been shifted to Thursday, March 8, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Abuja.

Although the adoption was slated for Monday, February 26, it was however adjourned to March 8, by the chairman of the tribunal Danladi Yakubu Umar following claims by the defence lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, that he was served with the final brief of argument by the prosecution after work.

Agabi who led a team of other senior lawyers for the Senate president pleaded with the tribunal to adjourn the matter to a new date to enable him study and respond to the brief of argument served on him late by the prosecution.

The prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, admitted that his brief was served late, but blamed the defense for the lateness on the grounds that their own brief of argument was served on him after seven days ordered by the tribunal.

Saraki's trial: Tribunal shifts final address adoption again

Dr Saraki's trial has continuously dragged on for a while. Photo credit: SP office

Jacobs told the tribunal that because the defense filed their brief of argument out of time, the settlement of his own brief was affected.

Having listened to both sides, the tribunal chairman subsequently adjourned the matter to March 8 for adoption of final, written address.

Umar also said that after the formal adoption of the written address, the tribunal will take a date for final judgment in the trial which commenced since 2015.

Saraki standing trial on allegations of false asset declaration brought against him by the federal government at the CCT, had on February 6, closed his defense after calling one witness, Dr Ademola Adebo from the CCB who testified in his favour.

Chairman of the tribunal, had subsequently adjourned the matter till February 27.

Although Saraki was arraigned in 2015 on 18 count charge, the tribunal had on June 13, 2017, discharged and acquitted Saraki in a ruling on a no case submission. The tribunal had held that the charges against him were based on hearsay that cannot be supported with laws.

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The Court of Appeal on December 12, 2017, in a judgment on an appeal filed by the federal government nullified 15 of the charges and ordered the Senate President to respond to only three counts, prompting Saraki to return to the CCT.

With the new development, the two parties would on March 8 address the tribunal on contentious issues only after which a date for final judgment be fixed.

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