Saraki's Trial Shifted To March 11...

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, has shifted the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the 13-count corruption charge filed against him by the Federal Government till March 11. 

The Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal, which initially gave Federal Government the nod to open its case against Saraki on March 10, deferred the proceeding by a day, following a letter from his new lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN. A statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations at the CCT, Mr. Ibraheem Al-Hassan, revealed that Agabi had in a letter dated February 26, pleaded for an adjournment on the ground that he had other cases fixed for March 10.

The Supreme Court had on February 5 okayed Saraki for trial over allegations that he falsely declared his assets.’’ In a unanimous judgment, a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN,   Justice Mahmud Mohammed, held that the Senate President had a case to answer before the CCT. 

The apex court, while dismissing the appeal that Saraki lodged to stop his trial, affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which held that the CCT panel was validly constituted to hear and determine the charge against him. Saraki, who was a two-term governor of Kwara State between May 2003 and May 2011, was in the charge before the CCT, marked ABT/01/15 and dated September 11, 2015, accused of  breaching section 2 of the  CCB and Tribunal Act, an offence punishable under section 23(2) of the Act and paragraph 9 of the said Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. 

Aside allegation that he falsely declared his assets, as well as, made anticipatory declaration of assets, Saraki, was also alleged to have operated foreign bank accounts while in office as a public officer. He was alleged to have acquired assets beyond his legitimate earnings. FG, among other offences, alleged that Saraki, claimed that he owned and acquired No 15A and 15B Mc Donald, Ikoyi, Lagos, through his company, Carlisle Properties Limited in 2000, when the said property was actually sold by the Implementation Committee of the Federal Government landed properties in 2006 to his companies, Tiny Tee Limited and Vitti Oil Limited for the aggregate sum of N396, 150, 000, 00. He was alleged to have made false declaration on or about June 3, 2011, by refusing to declare plot  2A Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which he acquired between 2007 and 2008 through his company from the Central Bank of Nigeria for a total sum of N325, 000, 000, 00. 

Saraki was said to have refused to declare No1 Tagnus street, Maitama, Abuja, which he claimed to have acquired in November 1996 from one David Baba Akawu. Some of his alleged offence while in office as governor, which are said to be punishable under section 15(1) and (2) of the CCB and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, were allegedly committed between October 2006 and May 2007. His actions were classified as a gross violation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended. Saraki had on September 22, 2015, pleaded not guilty to the charge which he said was grossly incompetent and ought to be quashed.

Vanguard reportage.

They keep postponing....... i am yet to see a situation where pot will call Kettle black...All what Saraki has been accused of,if they should start arresting them (they know themselves) 90percent of the will be involved.

Postponing this case is a waste of time and money.I am really looking forward to the climax and I am certain that Saraki will walk free