BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The false assets declaration trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki suffered yet another legal blow as the Supreme Court adjourned indefinitely hearing on the appeals filed by the Federal Government and Senator Saraki challenging the Appeal Court’s judgment on the case.
According to the apex court, both appeals have been deferred sine die to enable both sides file and exchange process relating to the case within the time frame allowed by law.
The Federal Government’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) told the court during proceedings that Senator Saraki had just served on him, his response to the cross appeal of the government, pleading that he needed time to study the reply and file his own process and serve same on Saraki as required by law.
He therefore sought an adjournment to enable him undertake the process with no opposition from counsel to Saraki, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN).
In his remarks on the matter, Justice Mohammed Musa Dattijo, who presided with four other Justices of the court, however said the apex Court will wait until all processes have been filed before giving a definite date for hearing.
Justice Dattijo said the Court Registrar will communicate hearing date to parties involved as soon as their processes are confirmed filed and exchanged.
Senator Saraki and the Federal Government are challenging the Court of Appeal, Abuja division’s decision nullifying 15 out of 18 count charges filed against the Senate President for being ‘baseless and frivolous’ but directed Saraki to open his defence on the remaining three charges.
However, while Saraki is praying the apex Court to void the entire 18 count charges, the Federal Government in its cross appeal is praying the Court to uphold the entire charges against the Senate President for defence at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Recalled the CCT where Saraki was arraigned in 2015 by government on 18 count charges of false assets declaration had discharged and acquitted him on the ground the charges were based on hearsay evidence that could not be relied upon to convict the defendant.
In his ruling in a no-case submission made by Saraki, the Tribunal Chairman, Mr Danladi Yakubu Umar agreed that the charges have no proper foundation in law and struck them out.
The judgment prompted the Federal Government to approach the Appeal Court to challenge the CCT’s ruling.
On March 8, 2018, the CCT adjourned indefinitely Saraki’s defence in the three count charges pending the determination of the Senate President’s appeal at the Supreme Court.
