COURT TO HEAR SARAKI'S APPEAL ON OCT 6

The Court of Appeal on Monday in Abuja
adjourned until October 6 to hear an appeal
filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,
challenging his criminal trial at the Code of
Conduct Tribunal.
Justice Abdul Aboki leading four other
Justices of the Court, gave the date at the
instance of counsel to the parties.
Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mr Rotimi Jacob
(SAN) represented Saraki and the Federal
Government respectively.
At the resume hearing, Agabi had urged the
court to adjourn the matter on account of the
convenience of the presiding justices.
“My Lordships, it is glaring that the court is
over worked and this is telling on the
postures of your Lordships.
“If we say we should press on because of
the exigency of this appeal we could all be
dead.
“We shall at this juncture be urging your
Lordships to adjourn hearing on this appeal
after you have returned from the annual
break,’’ Agabi said.
Meanwhile, the presiding judge interjected to
assure parties of the court’s readiness to
entertain the appeal.
“We appreciate the concerns advanced by
the Senior Advocate Agabi, but we shall not
be adjourning on account of our convenience
as we are here to serve,’’ Aboki said.
Jacobs, counsel to the Federal Government,
opposed the motion for adjournment, adding
that the applicant should be eager for the
appeal to be heard.
“My Lordships, I am also concern about the
effort you people are putting to ensure
speedy dispensation of appeals. And this no
doubt is telling on your health.
“More so that the court has come to the
threshold of this year’s annual recess, it is
appropriate to take your deserved rest but
not when a matter is ripe for hearing.
“Hearing of this appeal has been adjourned
three times at the instance of the appellant
applicant,’’ Jacob said.
Jacobs further said: “why have they
suddenly developed cooled feet toward the
application.
“Be that as it may, My Lordships, I shall be
guided by the body language of the court to
hold that My Lordships’ discretion should
prevail in the circumstance,’’ Jacobs said.
Saraki is challenging the jurisdiction of the
CCT to try him on charges bordering false
and anticipatory assets declaration.
Saraki had approached the appellate court
challenging the March 24 ruling of the
Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal
dismissing his application challenging the
jurisdiction of the tribunal.
He further said that the Code of Conduct
Bureau did not give him the opportunity to
react to the alleged discrepancies in his
asset declaration form before his
prosecution.
It would be recalled that Saraki’s earlier
appeal aimed at ending his trial was
dismissed by the Supreme Court in its
judgment delivered on Feb. 5.
The apex court had in that decision ordered
the Senate President to submit himself for
trial at the CCT.