Saraki Senate President’s trial postponed to March 18

The trial, which resumed today, March 11, was postponed due to a delay in serving a motion challenging the Tribunal’s jurisdiction on prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs.

The corruption trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been postponed to Friday, March 18, 2016.

The trial, which resumed today, March 11, was postponed due to a delay in serving a motion challenging the Tribunal’s jurisdiction on prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs.

CCT President, Danladi Umar shifted the trial after urging the defence to ensure that all motions and processes are served on time in order to avoid a further delay of the trial.

Saraki had earlier appeared at the premises of the tribunal in the company of about 30 Senators and was reportedly represented by 66 lawyers.

Meanwhile, Saraki has once again said that the trial is political saying that he wasn’t given a chance to explain himself.

“As it stands, Nigerians must ask why this fundamental and indispensable condition for a trial at the CCT has not been followed. What this means is that the condition precedent mandates that Dr. Saraki, as every other citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is entitled to, should have been given the opportunity to explain any perceived inaccuracy, but he was never given the opportunity to do so," he wrote via a statement released by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola.

“Given that for 13 years, all the documents from the senate president’s asset declarations from 2003, 2007 and 2011 were accessible by the Bureau for investigation. Saraki’s application states that the condition precedence should have been drawn to it, to give the senate president the opportunity to explain and address any identified issues.

“In this regard, as the trial begins, Nigerians should note that this outright non-observance of the rule of law, reaffirms the belief that this trial is borne from political mischief and malice associated with the timeliness and nature of this suit," he added.

The Senate President has been charged with 13 counts of false asset declaration which is said to have occurred during his 2003-2011 tenure as the governor of Kwara State.