The trial of Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki for alleged false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), was more of a show, as the senate president is being represented by 65 lawyers, among whom are seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). The Senate president also arrived at 9:56am in company of at least 30 senators.
Among the lawyers are Kanu Agabi (SAN), lead counsel; Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), Kehinde Aleja (SAN), Saka Ishau (SAN), Paul Irekoro (SAN) and Alphonsus Ogar.
Presenting his case, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), counsel to the federal government, told Danladi Umar, the judge, that he was ready to present his witnesses.
But Agabi told the court that there was a motion that must be ruled on before the commencement of trial. The motion was to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try Saraki.
Opposing, Jacobs said: “This is a deliberate attempt to scuttle this trial. So that this matter will not go on.”
“Today’s business is trial. That’s my submission.”
Jacobs further said that he had not been served with the motion, and urged the court to discountenance it, and order the calling of witnesses.
He argued that the defence counsel was employing tactical means to stop the trial.
But Agabi apologised to Jacobs for not serving him the motion personally, and asked for the indulgence of the court because he was new to the case.
Some of the senators present are Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president; Abdullahi Sabi, senate spokesman; Stella Oduah, Hope Uzodinma, Shehu Sani, Dino Melaye, and Sam Anyanwu.
Ben Murray-Bruce, a senator from Bayelsa east, is also among the senators. Murray-Bruce, in dark shades, sat on the same bench with Shehu Sani, a senator from Kaduna central, and Stella Oduah, a senator from Anambra north.
He adjourned the matter to March 18 for hearing of the motion and the substantive suit.
*TheCable
