A group of protesters have camped around various parts of Jabi District of Abuja, on the road leading to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), to declare support for the President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, whose trial at the CCT resumed Monday morning.
Mr. Saraki is standing trial for alleged false assets declaration and fraud at the tribunal. His trial began in September 2015.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Nigerian youths and Students stand firm with Saraki,” “Let the Senate Continue Working,” and “No to the ongoing witch-hunt of Saraki.”
They also chanted slogans such as “Sai namu mai gaskiya” in Hausa language, meaning “Our man is a person of truth”.
Mr. Saraki arrived the court at 10:05 am, amidst chants of “Oloye” by his supporters.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, arrived the court at 10:20 am, and hearing in the case began.
A counsel to the prosecution, Gabriel Esedine, asked the court to stand down for one hour, to allow the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, attend to another matter at the Court of Appeal.
The Tribunal Chairman, Mr. Umar, objected to the application, saying the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) does not allow for undue delay once a trial has started.
But the lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi, pleaded with the tribunal to allow trial resumes after Mr. Jacobs’ return.
Subsequently the trial was stood down at 10: 40 a.m. for an hour.
The trial has now resumed again upon the return of Rotimi Jacobs.
__________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2015 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
