Supreme Court halts Senate President Bukola Saraki’s trial at CCT

The Supreme Court has ordered a stay of proceedings of the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, who is being prosecuted on a 13-count charge bordering on false assets declaration.

The five-man panel led by Justice John Fabiyi made the decision following a concession given by the Federal Government’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), for the proceedings of the tribunal to be halted if Saraki’s main appeal would be given an accelerated hearing.

Saraki’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had argued his client’s motion for stay of the CCT’s proceedings.

In a unanimous decision read by Justice Fabiyi, the apex court ordered the tribunal “to tarry awhile.”

He ordered Jacobs to file his respondents’ brief in response to Saraki’s appellant’s brief served on him in court on Thursday within seven days.

The Supreme Court also ordered Daudu to file further response to Jacobs’ brief, if he so desired ‎within seven days thereafter.

Justice Fabiyi said the date for the hearing of the appeal would be communicated to parties in due course.

With the Thursday’s order, the tribunal could no longer sit on the case which was already adjourned till November 19.

‎Saraki had appealed to the Supreme Court against the October 30, 2015 judgment of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the competence of the charges instituted against him and the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him.