October 6, 2016 Evelyn Okakwu
The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, on Thursday reserved judgement on applications brought by parties in the case of alleged false declaration of assets against Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Mr. Saraki had approached the court to challenge the March 24 judgement of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which ruled that charges against him were valid and well within the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
The tribunal’s judgement followed an application by Mr. Saraki’s counsel, Kanu Agabi, that the failure of the Code of Conduct Bureau to invite his client for confirmation or denial of the charges against him (Mr. Saraki) made the allegations null and void.
While making the application on March 4, Mr. Agabi had said that the CCB and CCT Act provides that allegations like those brought against his client must first be confirmed before a valid charge can be made.
In its judgement on March 24 however, the Tribunal, chaired by Danladi Umar, dismissed the application, for lacking in merit.
Mr. Saraki then approached the Appeal Court to challenge the trial, alleging that his fundamental rights to fair hearing had being breached.
In its reaction, the Federal Government, through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, also made a counter application before the court of appeal, describing Mr. Saraki’s request as an abuse of court process.
Mr. Jacobs told the court that most of the arguments alluded to in the recent application were determined by the Supreme Court in its February 5 ruling, which forced Mr. Saraki to return to the tribunal and continue his hearing.
The case had being adjourned in July till October 6 for hearing, following the vacation of the Judiciary.
After listening to parties in the matter, the five-member panel, led by Justice Abdu Aboki, adjourned the case to a date to be communicated later.

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