Recall that in April, Saraki filed a similar application asking Umar to withdraw from the case alleging corruption, alleging that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was using the chairman against him (Saraki), but the tribunal chairman dismissed the application.
Saraki is standing trial for false assets declaration while he was governor of Kwara State preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Saraki who filed the suit through his lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, sought the withdrawal of the tribunal Chairman on the grounds of bias.
Advertisement
Agabi had cited a statement wherein Umar said Saraki was employing delay tactics because he was afraid of the “final consequences” of the trial.
At today’s resumed hearing, Umar held that the application was founded on “mere conjecture.”
According to Umar, he would not withdraw because there would be no one to sit in judgment over the trial.
He said, “The application to recuse myself has not been contemplated in the constitution. In the absence of a chairman, this trial cannot go on, therefore I cannot recuse myself. The chairman is the tribunal, without the chairman there is no tribunal.
“The application of the applicant is founded on mere conjecture. The application of the applicant is not well-founded, it is hereby dismissed.”