Appeal Court Takes Over Saraki’s False Assets Declaration Trial

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja yesterday formally assumed jurisdiction over the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki over alleged false assets declaration.

Justice Moore Adumein granted speedy hearing after listening to arguments of counsel to Saraki, Malam Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji (SAN) on the need for the matter to be expeditiously determined because of the utmost urgency involved.

With this decision, the proceedings before the Code of Conduct Tribunal have automatically stopped pending the outcome of the appeal.

Following his arraignment before the Tribunal last month, Saraki had approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja for a stay of proceedings.

The appellate court in a decision yesterday granted accelerated hearing into the suit in which Saraki is asking the court to stop his continued trial at the Tribunal pending the determination of his case.

The accelerated hearing was ordered yesterday as Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Lawyer to the Federal Government did not oppose the motion filed by Saraki’s Lawyers.

While making the order, the three-man panel of Justices headed by Justice Adumein directed the Federal Government to file its brief before October 16, when the appeal would be ripe for hearing.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal presided over by its Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, had on September 22, fixed October 21, 22 and 23 for trial of the Senate President.

The tribunal fixed the dates for trial shortly after Saraki pleaded not guilty to the 13 counts of false assets declaration on September 22.

The tribunal had earlier ordered the Inspector- General of Police to arrest Saraki who had refused to show up to take his plea on the strength of a purported order of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining his arraignment.

But Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who presides over his case at the Federal High Court, where Saraki had filed an ex parte application to stop the trial, had since denied issuing such order.

The judge also returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge.

Justice Mohammed has withdrawn from the suit following what he called negative reports in some sections of the media that he had been compromised.