The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, declared on Monday that he would not suspend the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in defiance to the sitting of the Senate.
About 13 senators accompanied Saraki to the Monday’s proceedings.
Umar had earlier before the proceedings began on Monday, that the trial would proceed henceforth 10am to 6pm on daily basis.
While adjourning the trial at about 5pm on Monday, Umar rejected a request by Saraki’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), for the tribunal to skip Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which are the days of the week which the Senate sits.
The request was opposed by the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), warned that the Senate should not be into the trial.
“The Senate is not on trial. The persons that is on trial is the defendant. The Senate should sit. It’s a disgrace to our nation to be saying that.”
In his response, the tribunal chairman reiterated the same point, asking the Senate to continuing siting while the Senate President is allowed to face his trial.
Umar said, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not on trial, the Senate should sit. The only thing is that the personality of the defendant who happened to be the Senate President. The Senate should continue to sit.”
The trial was adjourned till Tuesday for cross-examination of the first prosecution witness., Mr. Michael Wetkas.
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