Alleged Declaration Of Assets: CCT Adjourns Saraki’s Trial Till May 10
Channels Television. Updated April 28, 2016
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has adjourned till May 10, 2016 the trial of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar had on
Thursday ruled and accepted an amended 16 count charge filed by the
prosecution against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
This prompted counsel to the Senate President to take a fresh plea on the charges being raised.
The trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, for alleged false
asset declaration, continued on Thursday with the prosecution asking to
replace the former charge against the Senate President with new charges.
This came up just after the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,
Justice Danladi Umar, dismissed the application filed by Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki seeking Umar’s withdrawal from his trial,
holding that the application lacks absolute merit.
Cross examination of prosecution witness, Mr Micheal Wetkas, by the
defence counsel was about to begin when the prosecution asked to
withdraw the former charge against the Senate President and requested
the leave of the court to enable him read the amended charges to the Senate President.
The former charge was filed on October 18, 2015 and Mr Jacobs asked
the court to accept the new charges, dated April 27, 2016 as the case
against the Senate President.
Not Guilty
The senate president, doctor Bukola saraki has pleaded not guilty pleaded
not guilty to an amended sixteen count charges of alleged false
declaration of asset filed against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The Senate President was first charged in September 2015 for alleged false and anticipatory declaration of assets.
The two charges read, “That you on or about September 16, 2013 within
the jurisdiction of this honorable tribunal did make a false
declaration in the asset declaration form for public officers which you
filled and submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau upon assumption of
office as the Governor of kwara State in the year 2003 by your failure
to declare your leasehold interest in number 42, Remi Fani-kayode
street, Ikeja, Lagos, which you acquired through your company, Skyview
Properties Limited from first Finance Trust Limited on December 12, 1996
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(1)(2) of
the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, laws of the
federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1)
(2), I fifth schedule to the constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23(2) of the
Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph
18, Part I of the fifth schedule to the constitution of the federal
republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”, it read
“That you between June 2011 and October 2013, within the jurisdiction
of this honorable tribunal, did receive monthly salaries or emoluments
as governor of kwara state and at the same time, from the federal
government as a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, laws of the federation of
Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the,
fifth schedule to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of
Conduct Bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part
I of the fifth schedule to the constitution of the federal republic of
Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
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