CCT Adjourns Saraki’s Trial Indefinitely

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Thursday adjourned the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki indefinitely.

The senate president is being tried on three of the 18 counts of false assets declaration filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The adjournment, according to Danladi Umar, CCT chairman, was to await the outcome of Supreme Court on the appeal filed by Saraki and the Federal Government’s cross-appeal in respect of the case.

The Senate President had on December 27, 2017 filed a four-ground notice of appeal and on January 11, filed another seven grounds of appeal to overturn an Appeal Court judgement ordering him back to the CCT for continuation of trial on three out of the 18 counts earlier dismissed by the tribunal.

Umar said going by sections 305 and 306 of the administration of criminal justice act, an appeal does not mean stay in proceedings “but in view of the fact that there are some issues in the appeal before the supreme court which are involved in this case, we think it is germane to consider the integrity of the apex court.”

“The tribunal has decided to adjourn sine die (indefinitely) pending the outcome of the appeals at the Supreme Court,” the CCT chair ruled.
Saraki’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had earlier informed the tribunal that the Supreme Court had fixed March 15 for the hearing of the pending appeals.

The CCT, had in June 2017 ruled on a no-case submission which Saraki filed after the prosecution concluded its case, dismissed the entire 18 counts on the grounds of lack of credible evidence.

However, the Federal Government had, through its prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), appealed against the CCT ruling.

Ruling on the Federal government’s appeal, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson unanimously ordered the Senate President to return to the CCT to face trial on three of the counts.

The trial had resumed on February 6, 2018, but Saraki had earlier filed a seven-ground notice of appeal before the supreme court, resisting the three charges.

The federal government had also filed a cross-appeal before the apex court against the part of the judgment which affirmed the dismissal of the other 15 counts.

The CCT chairman said the decision of the supreme court will “invariably affect” the decision of the tribunal”, as it will have to protect the integrity of the apex court.

He, therefore, adjourned indefinitely pending the outcome of the supreme court judgement.