The code of conduct tribunal on Wednesday adjourned the trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki over his false declaration of assets till November 5 and 6, 2015.
He was earlier arraigned September 18, but he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail.
In the charges, Mr. Saraki was accused of breaching the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Saraki had arrived the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the company of 81 senators, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu a few minutes before 10am, and quickly sat on the second row of seats in the audience. He sat beside Aliyu Ndume, senate leader, whom he intermittently conversed with. The senate president had appeared unruffled.
The first time he was in court was on September 22, after an order for his arrest by the CCT. Although he came to the tribunal voluntarily, he had sought to stop his trial at the high court and appeal court, but failed.
Saraki had pleaded not guilty to a 13-count charge of false declaration of assets, and had said he was on trial because he emerged senate president against the wish of his party.
The Assistant Chief Registrar of the Court, Mr Bintu Garba has barred cameras from taking shots of the proceeding or broadcasting it live.
Mr Garba said the instruction is from the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar.
The Tribunal had adjourned till October 21 to commence Dr Saraki’s trial for the 13 charges preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, which alleged that the Senate President made false asset declaration as Kwara State Governor between 2003 and 2011.
The Senate President had appeared before the tribunal on September 22.
Leave a Reply