The Supreme Court, this morning, stayed further hearing on
the 13-count criminal charge pending against the Senate President, Dr.
Olubukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.
The apex court, in a ruling today, directed the Justice
Danladi Umar-led tribunal to suspend the trial to enable it to hear and
determine the substantive appeal that Saraki lodged before it.
This was even as the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi
Jacobs, SAN, entered an undertaking before the apex court that “no
unusual step will be taken by the federal government”, in relation to
the matter.
In their ruling, a five-man panel of Justices of the
Supreme Court led by Justices John Fabiyi, held: “It is imperative to
state that all the parties, including the Code of Conduct Tribunal,
should tarry a while to enable this court to determine the appeal before
it.
“In effect, further proceeding at the CCT should be stayed
pending the hearing of the appeal. Hearing date will be communicated to
all the parties”, Justice Fabiyi ruled.
All the other members of the apex court panel also concurred with the lead ruling.
Saraki is in his appeal marked SC/852/2015,
praying the apex court to invoke its powers and quash the 13-count
criminal charge that was preferred against him by the federal
government.
Besides, he wants the Supreme Court to set aside the
judgement of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal which on October
30, gave the government the nod to open its case by call witnesses to
testify against him.
In the appeal he filed through his team of lawyers led by
Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN, the embattled Senate President, applied for: “An
order staying further proceedings in Charge No: CCT/ABJ/01/2015 between
Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki fixed for
hearing on 5th and 6th of November, 2015 pending the determination of
the appeal pending before the Supreme Court against the judgment of the
Court of Appeal dated 30th October, 2015.”
Comments
Post a Comment