The Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja will today, Wednesday, deliver its ruling on the no-case submission filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to challenge his ongoing trial on the amended 18 charges of false declaration and other related offences.
The Danladi Umar-led two-man panel of the CCT had reserved its ruling after hearing Saraki’s no-case submission and the Federal Government’s objection to it on June 8.
Umar had said the date for the ruling would be communicated to the parties whenever it is ready.
Multiple sources in the tribunal, however, informed our correspondent late on Tuesday that the CCT panel had fixed Wednesday for the ruling.
“Parties in the case were informed today (Tuesday) that the ruling will come up tomorrow, (Wednesday),” a CCT official told our correspondent.
For More:Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
The Senate President, through his no-case submission filed before the CCT on May 26, 2017, contended that none of the exhibits tendered and no evidence given by the four prosecution witnesses linked him to the alleged offences to warrant him to defend the charges.
But arguing the Federal Government’s objection to the no-case submission on Thursday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said there was a “serious prima facie case” against the Senate President.
The prosecution had closed its case after its fourth witness, Mr. Bayo Dauda, an official of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Ilorin branch, started and concluded his testimony on May 4.
Adopting the defendant’s written addresses before the CCT on Thursday, the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), said the petition which precipitated the charges had nothing to do with Saraki.
Agabi said the charges, especially counts 1, 2, 6, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16, had disclosed no valid offences.
He said, “Our submission is that the prosecution has not made out a case warranting an answer from the defendant is dated May 21, 2017 and filed on May 26, 2017. Our reply on point of law is dated June 7, 2017.”
For More:Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
In response, Jacobs insisted that the prosecution had made out a “serious prima facie case” had been established against the Senate President.
He urged the tribunal to analyse and juxtapose the various asset declaration forms submitted by the defendant to reveal the falsehoods in them.
Jacobs said, “Our response to the no-case submission is dated June 2, 2017 and filed the same day.
“One method your lordship should adopt to show that there is a serious prima facie case against the defendant is to look at Exhibits 6 and 26 which are asset declarations made by the defendant after the investigation of this case.
“My lordships will see that the defendant listed all the properties and stated that they were acquired in 1992 and 1999 and now. If my lord juxtaposes them with Exhibits 1 to 5, some of the properties he claimed (were) acquired in 1999, 2002, and 2003, were not declared.”
Are you an artiste? Do you want your music to go viral and reach a large number of audience? Promote your music and Submit your story on Ujuayalogusblog.com by clicking here. For Advert Inquiries Tel/+44(0)7590363984 Subscribe to Ujuayalogusblog.com News!
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2015-2017 @ Uju Ayalogu's Blog NIGERIAN NEWS
For More:Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment