Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), says the
trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki will now commence from day to
day.
Umar made the statement while scolding Gabriel Esegine,
counsel to the federal government, who held brief for Rotimi Jacobs
(SAN), the lead counsel in the trial of the senate president.
Esegine
had asked the tribunal to stand down the matter for an hour so that
Jacobs, who is at the appeal court, could continue it when he returns.
But Umar was displeased, and he wondered why Jacobs would be absent from such a sensitive case.
“This tribunal will not wait for anybody,” he said.
“According
to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, trials are to
commence from day to day. And that’s what will happen now from 10am to
6pm.”
However, Umar stood down the matter to 12pm after giving the prosecution counsel a talking-to.
Kanu Agabi, counsel to Saraki, had consented to the application for stand-down before the tribunal ruled on it.
With the tribunal now sitting on daily basis it is apparent the senate president can not function in his capacity as leader of the House.
