CCT rules on Saraki’s motion seeking chairman’s disqualification July 13

 

The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday fixed July 13 to deliver its ruling on an application filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, asking its chairman, Danladi Umar to disqualify himself from further presiding ‎over his trial.

The tribunal fixed the date for ruling after hearing parties, with the prosecution led by Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), describing the the application as frivolous and urged the tribunal to dismiss it.

On the other ha

nd, defence counsel, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN),‎ maintained that with the comment of the tribunal chairman stating during the June 7, 2016 proceedings which he said his team had  adjudged to be bias‎ed against the defence, the tirbunal chairman could no longer do justice.

Erokoro quoted Umar to have warned that the delay tactics deployed by the defence‎ would not reduce the consequences of the trial.

The lawyer maintained that the comment was tantamount to a threat of conviction of the defendant when trial has yet to be concluded.

But Jacobs said the consequences referred to by Umar‎ could either be acquittal or conviction going by the provisions of section 309 and 310 Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government before the CCT on 16 counts, including false and anticipatory asset declaration, which he allegedly made between 2003 and 2011 when he served as the Governor of Kwara State.

He is ‎also accused  of operating foreign accounts as a public officer and of receiving governor’s salary or emoluments  in addition to his salary as a senator for some periods after completing his two terms as governor and got elected as a senator‎.