Appeal Court Throws Out Saraki’s Application To Stop Cct Trial

BEVERLY HILLS, April 25, (THEWILL) – The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Monday lost the bid to halt his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, as the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the application asking it to compel the tribunal to stay proceedings on his trial pending the determination of another application he filed at the appellate court.

The Senate President, who is being prosecuted for alleged false and anticipatory declaration of assets, is challenging the recent ruling of the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal that it had the jurisdiction to try him.

On Monday, counsel to the Senate President, Mr. Kanu Agabi SAN informed the court of his client's desire to withdraw the said application for stay of proceedings, but prayed the court to speed up hearing into his client's main application.

“In the motion, dated April 4, we prayed your lordship to stay proceedings at the CCT pending the hearing of our appeal. But we now want to urge your lordship to grant accelerated hearing to our appeal,” said Agabi, who had made the application.

Saraki had approached the court after the application to halt his trial at the tribunal was dismissed on Thursday (March 24), but at the hearing on Monday (April 25), the court adjourned the substantive matter to a date to be communicated to parties.