The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday stayed action on the trial of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, pending the decision of the Court of Appeal against the trial.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had yet to deliver judgment in an appeal filed by Saraki against charges of alleged false declaration of assets levied against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
At the resumed hearing of the case before the CCT on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), announced to the tribunal that the appeal was still pending at the Court of Appeal.
Jacobs said: “My Lord, there is development.
“On October 6, the defendant (Saraki) filed an appeal against the jurisdiction of the tribunal to handle this case here.
“We were duly served and our response filed on October 16.
“The appellate court reserved October 19 to deliver its judgment, which did not hold.
“In the light of this development, there is need for us, the prosecution, to respect the integrity of the Court of Appeal to uphold the best practice.
“We urge your Lordship to adjourn the matter for two weeks even though we are mindful of the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which abhors stay of proceedings.
“In fact, the Court of Appeal had earlier struck out the defendant’s motion for stay pending the judgment of the court, only to be filed again yesterday.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the oral application filed by the prosecution was not objected to by the defendant’s legal team.
Responding on their behalf, Mahmoud Magaji (SAN) prayed the tribunal to take the step of the superior court and adjourn the proceedings indefinitely.
Magaji said: “I am not against the application for stay brought by the prosecution.
“However, he should not have guided the tribunal for specific dates.
“In fact, my lord, we are of the prayer that the tribunal follows the precedence set by the appellate court to adjourn the proceedings here indefinitely pending the decision of the superior court.”
Umar Danladi, the Chairman of the tribunal, said the tribunal was not obliged to adjourn the matter indefinitely, adding: “This will make parties to become relaxed.
“The case is therefore adjourned till November 5 and November 6 for mention.”
NAN.
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