A fresh application filed by the President of Senate, Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal sitting in Abuja has forced the tribunal to adjourn his trial on alleged false assets declaration till June 21. The tribunal adjourned for the hearing of the motion filed by Saraki seeking an order of the CCT to disqualify its Chairman, Danladi Umar, from further presiding over the case.
Saraki filed his fresh application accusing Umar of bias based on the remark he made while warning the defence lawyers against delay tactics at the last adjourned date. While making a remark during court proceedings, the CCT, Chairman, warned the defence team led by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi that their delay tactics would not reduce the consequences the defendant will meet at the end of the trial.
Saraki, in his fresh application filed by his lawyers is alleging that Umar’s statement would prejudice the outcome of the trial. But prosecution counsel is however opposing the application on the grounds that it lacked merit. The fresh application is the second filed by the Senate President asking the CCT chairman to withdraw from his trial.
The tribunal chairman has fixed the hearing of the motion for June 21. Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on 16 – count charge bordering on false and anticipatory asset declaration, which he allegedly made between 2003 and 2011 when he served as the Governor of Kwara State.
