Bukola Saraki: Supreme Court to hear appeal 3 December

Monday, November 30, 2015 11:16 pm

Senator Bukola Saraki

The Supreme Court has slated Thursday for hearing on the appeal filed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki against his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, according to notices sent to parties in the case.

The notices were sent today.

Saraki is challenging the decision of the Code of Conduct tribunal (CCT) to assume jurisdiction over the false asset declaration charges brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The Court of Appeal, in a split decision of two-to-one upheld the CCT’s jurisdiction to hear the charges, a decision Saraki appealed at the Supreme Court.

The apex court had on November 12 directed the CCT to suspend proceedings in the trial pending determination of the appeal.

A five-man bench of the court, led by Justice John Fabiyi gave the directive for a halt in the proceedings before the CCT following an undertaking by respondents’ lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), to the effect that since the court has granted accelerated hearing in the appeal, he will prevail on the CCT not to proceed with trial until the apex court pronounce on Saraki’s appeal.

Many lawyers have criticised the Supreme Court for stopping a criminal trial, a position that amounts to rewriting the law of the country. Justice Fabiyi retired last week from the court.

*from reports by The Nation