Senate President's CCT criminal trial adjourned indefinitely

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has adjourned the false assets declaration trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki until an indefinite date on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

Saraki is standing trial for alleged failure to declare some assets while he was Kwara State governor in a reduced 3-count charge.

The Senate President had earlier been cleared of all charges in June 2017 by the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal citing the prosecution's failure to prove the allegations, but a December 2017 ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja had ordered him back to the tribunal to answer for three of the original 18 charges.

When he resumed trial on Thursday, his counsel, Kanu Agabi, urged the tribunal to adjourn the trial pending the resolution of an appeal before the Supreme Court.

Agabi had sent a letter, dated January 19, 2018, to the tribunal on behalf of Saraki to get a stay in the criminal proceedings until the Supreme Court case is resolved.

Even though prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob, objected to the indefinite adjournment, the tribunal conceded to the defendant's request.

Justice Umar said, "Since the supreme court is giving an accelerated hearing of the appeal, we will be hesitant to proceed pending when the appeal is determined.

"To be on the safer side, the tribunal has decided to tarry for a while so that the integrity of the court will not be tampered with."

Saraki's Supreme Court case

To express his dissatisfaction at the order to return to the tribunal, Saraki filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal judgement which directed him to answer to three charges over failure to disclose his assets.

His notice of appeal was filed on December 27, 2017 and contains four grounds on which he objects to the December 12, 2017 ruling of the Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson-led appeal tribunal.

Saraki's 'crimes'

The Court of Appeal had directed Saraki to defend counts 4, 5 and 6 of the original case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in relation to his alleged failure to declare some assets.

In Count 4, he is accused of making false assets declaration at the end of his tenure as Executive Governor of Kwara State in 2011 and on assumption of office as a Senator in 2011 in respect of a property at 17A McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In Count 5, the prosecution accused Saraki of making false asset declaration at the end of his tenure as Executive Governor of Kwara State in 2011 and on assumption of office as a Senator in 2011 when he declared that he acquired No. 17B McDonald, Ikoyi, Lagos, on September 6, 2006 from proceeds of sale of rice and sugar.

In Count 6, the prosecution also accused the Senate President of making a false declaration in his Assets Declaration Form at the end of his tenure as Governor of Kwara State in 2007 and on assumption of office as Executive Governor in 2007 by failing to declare his outstanding loan liabilities of N315,054,355.92 out of the loan of N380,000,000 obtained from the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc.