Appeal Court Rules On Saraki’s Trial Today

The Appeal Court will today deliver judgement in the case instituted by Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to subject him to trial based on the 13-count charge of false assets declaration filed against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The CCB had filed a 13-count corruption charge against Saraki for failing to declare his assets fully, alleging that he misused state funds to purchase private assets while serving as Kwara State governor.

It would be recalled that Saraki’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), had urged the court to expeditiously determine his client’s appeal on the ground that time was very important in the ongoing case.

Along with the appeal, the Senate president’s lawyers also filed an application seeking for proceedings before the CCT to hold on pending the determination of his appeal.

But that would not be necessary any longer since the appellate court has promised an accelerated hearing on the issue.

The court had on Friday, October 16, after taking arguments from parties, fixed judgment for 2 pm on October 19, but failed to deliver it on the ground that the judgment was not ready.

The judgment was then reserved indefinitely, with the court promising to communicate a new date to parties.

It was gathered that notices were sent to parties informing them about today’s date.

The delay by the Court of Appeal to deliver its judgment had stalled proceedings before the CCT, which has chosen to await the Appeal Court’s decision before taking any further steps in the Senate president’s trial.

Source: Dailytimes.com