The Senate President, Bukola Saraki launched a fresh bid on Friday to block his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Saraki appeared with 80 lawyers at the tribunal, where he is facing charges of alleged false asset declaration.
Saraki’s team of lawyers, led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, urged the tribunal to strike out the charge against their client on the grounds that the details of the charge as presented at the tribunal were invalid.
The tribunal had on March 11 adjourned its sitting after Agabi demanded a ruling on an earlier application contesting the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court he was not aware of the application made by Agabi, but at the resumed hearing Friday, Jacobs said he was served with an application by the defence to strike out the case completely.
Jacobs cited sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to buttress his point that the application was not ripe for hearing.
He argued that the details of the new application were the same as those of the previous application determined at the Supreme Court, in which the court ordered that the CCT had Jurisdiction on the matter.
According to Jacobs, the new application amounted to a duplication of applications before the court, adding that such an act was in clear negation of the proceedings of court, as enshrined by law.
But in his reply, Agabi cited section 3 (D) of the court schedule, stressing that Saraki should have been invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau before charges were filed against him.
He said the charge as presented should have emanated from the Bureau, after Saraki had been given an opportunity to either affirm or deny the said allegations.
Agabi noted that the statement of Saraki affirming or denying the allegations against him should have formed the basis of his trial and the absence of such a statement implies that his client had not been given a fair trial.
The case was adjourned till March 24 for determination of the latest application, with the judge, Danladi Umar, ruling that the tribunal would finalise its ruling on the application and deliver its judgement on March 24.
Follow Us
