Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Justice Danladi Umar has said
that after analysing all the issues raised have come to the conclusion
that the matter cannot be adjourned as the Tribunal has ruled that it
has jurisdiction to hear the same and the position that has been
affirmed by the Supreme Court.
He said since the Tribunal has
ruled last week that the trial will commence today and “it is ready to
take the witnesses for commencement of trial.”
Saraki who is without is lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) is in court 90 lawyers.
The
Code of Conduct Tribunal had earlier adjourned for 15 minutes to rule
on a request by Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki for the
adjournment of trial.
Before taking the decision to take a recess,
Paul Usoro, standing in for Chief Kanu Agabi, had in his response to
the argument of the prosecution counsel argued that the Tribunal asked
the tribunal to strike out the request for stay of proceedings before it
if it constitutes abuse of court process.
Senator Bukola Saraki
He also argued that adjournment and stay of proceedings are not the same, hence they were treated differently in law.
He also argued that the principle of law for adjournment and stay of proceedings are different.
Usoro
argued that there was no limit to the number of adjournment that can
granted by a court in ACJA. He added that this was why the Act prescribe
imposition of fines for frivolous request for adjournment.
