Saraki’s Trial Will Now Hold Every Day – Cct

BEVERLY HILLS, April 18, (THEWILL) – Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar says the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki will now commence from day to day, backing up his decision with section 396(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA.

Umar, who gave this directive on Monday at the resumed hearing in the case, said the trial will now begin 10 am and end by 6 pm every day until the conclusion of the case.

He gave the directive in response to a request for one hour stand-down by the lawyer who represented the prosecution on Monday, Mr. Gabriel Esegine.

Esigine told the tribunal that the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN asked for the stand-down to enable him to appear briefly before the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

But in response, the judge, who was not satisfied with the request for stand-down, warned that the tribunal would no longer wait for anybody.

According to him, “By virtue of 396 (6) the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, criminal trial of a defendant after arraignment shall proceed day to day.

“This is what the tribunal intends to do. I'm saying this to both the prosecution and the defence, this tribunal will not wait for anybody.

“We will start by 10 am till about 6 pm till the conclusion of the case.

“For the benefit of those who want to pray we will give a break for about 15 minutes. By 4pm, we will give another 15 minutes break to enable people to stretch their legs.”

However, the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN joined the prosecution in pleading with the tribunal to grant the stand-down.

The CCT Chairman then reluctantly stood the case down till 12 pm.