Absence of prosecution witness stalls Senate President's trial

The absence of Micheal Wetkas, prosecution witness 1, stalled proceedings at the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has however debunked media reports that Wetkas absence was due to his need for rest adding that the witness was testifying before Justice Ademola Adeniyi in a matter brought against Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, and his two sons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Jacobs who is also the prosecuting counsel said: "Our witness is busy before Hon. Justice Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja in respect of Sule Lamido case."

A new date has not been announced for the hearing as the time of filling this report.

Similarly, a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja failed to hear an application by Saraki challenging the tribunal's jurisdiction to try him on false declaration of asset on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.

Justice Moo Adumie, one of the three-man panel of judges who appeared for the matter, had told the court that hearing on the application could not be held as the court cannot sit if a quorum is not formed.

READ: Saraki trial: EFCC witness admits evidence tendered against Senate President was incomplete

While he did not give any reason why the two other judges were absent, Justice Adumie adjourned the matter to June 2, 2016 to enable the court form a quorum.

Saraki is currently facing a 16-count charge bothering on false declaration of assets, operation of foreign accounts operation of foreign accounts as a public officer and receiving salaries from Kwara state government as a serving senator at the tribunal.