In protest, Dr Saraki’s defence lawyers withdraw from fraud trial

Defence lawyers for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where he is standing trial on charges of alleged fraud and deceitful declaration of assets, have all withdrawn from the case.

They withdrew in protest following the ruling, today by the tribunal, to continue trial, a decision which the lawyers described as “judicial rascality”.

The tribunal had based its ruling on the strength of Section 305 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which says that a trial can be concluded and ruling reserved until all questions about the trial are answered.

In view of the withdrawal of his lawyers, Dr. Saraki asked for one month to reconstitute his legal defence.

However, lawyer to the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs objected, saying that it is another ploy for the Senate President to “get what he wants”.

The tribunal ruled that it will give the Senate President only one week to reconstitute his legal team. The case was consequently adjourned till November 19.

Earlier, Rotimi Jacobs had notified the tribunal that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had in a judgment it delivered on October 30, dismissed Dr. Saraki’s appeal against his trial.

But the Senate President through his lawyer, Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), urged the tribunal to adjourn the trial pending the decision in the appeal he has lodged before the Supreme C‎ourt.

The Senate President had appealed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which on October 30 affirmed the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him on 13 counts of false assets declaration.

Senator Saraki also filed an application for stay of proceedings urging the Supreme Court to halt the proceedings of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to try him for the alleged offences pending when his appeal would be determined.

The Senate President raised seven grounds of appeal in his notice of appeal filed on Tuesday and attached to the application for stay of proceedings.

In the appeal, Dr. Saraki is urging the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the entire proceedings of the CCT and the charges preferred against him before the Tribunal.

Mr. Saraki was arraigned on September 18, 2015, but pleaded not guilty to the charge of fraud and was granted bail in his own recognition.