Code Of Conduct Tribunal Commences Day 3 Corruption Trial Of Bukola Saraki

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has stood down the trial of Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki for one hour following the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs in the court.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Danladi Umar made this known this morning after the submission by the representative of the prosecution, Gabriel Ezegine, who is holding the brief for the lead prosecutor said that the Jacobs has asked him to apologize to the court on his behalf to ask for one hour. He said that this was as a result of the hearing notice of a  case he was handling at the Court of Appeal which was served on him today.

The chairman while accepting the request said that he would no longer entertain any frivolous and unnecessary excuse from any counsel saying the trial would continue day to day without any further distraction. He noted that this was in line and in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

He, therefore, stood down the case for one hour to resume by 12:00 pm.

Saraki arrived the court with few senators accompanying him. There has been a sharp reduction in the number of his loyalists as many senators are withdrawing their support following the way Saraki has been losing out in all the appeals to quash his case at the tribunal.