Omoyajowo Ogunyemi
Bukola Saraki, senate president, finally appeared at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT on Tuesday to answer to charges related to his asset declaration. The senate President was accompanied to the tribunal by some of his colleagues, including Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate president. The case came up for hearing at 10:32am and was not devoid of theatrics. Justice Danladi Umar, Head of the Tribunal, looking directly at Saraki inquired, “Where is the prosecution, is the accused person here?” The prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs replied, “My lord I cannot see him. I think the first thing is for him to enter the dock first, and then we will announce our appearance. After which the charge will be read to him”. Mr. J.B Daudu, counsel to Saraki, opposed the idea of Saraki entering the dock and said the order of the tribunal was for the accused to be produced and not to enter the plea. After hearing from both counsels, Justice Umar ruled that the trial is a criminal case requiring Saraki to mount the dock to answer to the charges leveled against him by the federal government. The senate president heeded the order and a 13-count criminal charge was read to him by the prosecuting counsel. As each of the charges was read to him, Saraki replied “Not Guilty.” The case was later adjourned to October 21, 2015.
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