The
Chairman of the Tribunal came into the courtroom at 10.32 a.m, and
apologised for the delay in the commencement of proceeding. He said the
tribunal was sorting out some matters. UPDATE 2: Officials of the
Tribunal seems desperate to stop the live coverage of this trial.
Shortly before the Senate President arrived, an unnamed member of the
Tribunal beckoned on TVC (television station) to stop the live coverage.
And for over 10 minutes after, there was power cut at the chamber. -The
light was still out when Senate President arrives. But the light is
still out. -The light is back. – Tribunal announces it was banning live
coverage of proceedings UPDATE 3: Argument ensues as to where Saraki
should be seated UPDATE 4: Prosecutor Rotimi Jacob says the business of
the day is for the accused person to take his plea UPDATE 5: Prosecution
wants the Senate President to be seated at the dock Mr. Saraki’s
counsel, J.B. Daudu, says Tribunal is not a court to try criminal cases
Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, insists Mr. Saraki must take his plea.
UPDATE 6: [11:16] Argument still ongoing with Mr. Saraki’s lead counsel
saying that according to paragraph 18, Subsection 1 of the 5th Schedule
of the 1999 Constitution and that the case is either not criminal in
nature or that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear it. UPDATE 7:
The prosecution counsel argued however that going by Section 2 of the
Administration of Justice Act, 2015, the matter can be heard since the
Tribunal was set up by An act of the National Assembly. The Tribunal
chairman is currently analysing both points UPDATE 8: The Tribunal ruled
that the trial is criminal in nature. “I hold that the trial before the
tribunal is purely criminal,” Chairman Danladi Umar said. He further
ruled that the accused enter go ahead to take his plea. UPDATE 9: Saraki
goes to the dock. The 13-count charge of corruption levelled against
him by the Code of Conduct Bureau being read to him. UPDATE 10: Saraki
is asked to plead either guilty or not guilty. UPDATE 11: Saraki
responds: “I believe that I am here as the Senate president, to indicate
my respect for the Tribunal. I am puzzled why I am being compelled. He
said he is not guilty. UPDATE 12: Before pleading not guilty, the Senate
President reiterated the provision of Paragraph 18 of the 5th Schedule
of the Constitution – the point earlier argued by his counsel That
provision says: 18. (1) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal finds a
public officer guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this
Code it shall impose upon that officer any of the punishments specified
under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph and such other punishment as
may be prescribed by the National Assembly. (2) The punishment which the
Code of Conduct Tribunal may impose shall include any of the following –
(a) vacation of office or seat in any legislative house, as the case
may be; (b) disqualification from membership of a legislative house and
from the holding of any public office for a period not exceeding ten
years; and (c) seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property
acquired in abuse or corruption of office. (3) The sanctions mentioned
in sub-paragraph (2) hereof shall be without prejudice to the penalties
that may be imposed by any law where the conduct is also a criminal
offence. (4) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal gives a decision as to
whether or not a person is guilty of a contravention of any of the
provisions of this Code, an appeal shall lie as of right from such
decision or from any punishment imposed on such person to the Court of
Appeal at the instance of any party to the proceedings. (5) Any right of
appeal to the Court of Appeal from the decisions of the Code of Conduct
Tribunal conferred by sub-paragraph (4) hereof shall be exercised in
accordance with the provisions of an Act of the National Assembly and
rules of court for the time being in force regulating the powers,
practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal. (6) Nothing in this
paragraph shall prejudice the prosecution of a public officer punished
under this paragraph or preclude such officer from being prosecuted or
punished for an offence in a court of law. (7) The provisions of this
Constitution relating to prerogative of mercy shall not apply to any
punishment imposed in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.
UPDATE 13: On the various assets allegedly acquired by the Senate
President, which the Conduct Bureau said were beyond his legitimate
earnings, the Senate President said he is not guilty. He said he
acquired the assets through the selling of rice. On Count 3, which
refers to his refusal to declare assets worth N280 million acquired when
he was Kwara State Governor - See more at:
http://shokishombolonews.com/index.php/politics/item/892-all-you-need-to-know-about-saraki-s-appearance-at-code-of-conduct-tribunal#sthash.XkLNeBrc.Ba0oourv.dpufJustice Danladi Umar
has commenced the trial of the embattled Senate President, Dr. Bukola
Saraki at the tribunal in Abuja, Nigeria. However,. the trial judge
reads the 13 counts charge on false assets declaration to the accused
while in dock and the senate president, Saraki pleaded not guilty to
all the charges.Trial now adjourned till October 21
The
Chairman of the Tribunal came into the courtroom at 10.32 a.m, and
apologised for the delay in the commencement of proceeding. He said the
tribunal was sorting out some matters. UPDATE 2: Officials of the
Tribunal seems desperate to stop the live coverage of this trial.
Shortly before the Senate President arrived, an unnamed member of the
Tribunal beckoned on TVC (television station) to stop the live coverage.
And for over 10 minutes after, there was power cut at the chamber. -The
light was still out when Senate President arrives. But the light is
still out. -The light is back. – Tribunal announces it was banning live
coverage of proceedings UPDATE 3: Argument ensues as to where Saraki
should be seated UPDATE 4: Prosecutor Rotimi Jacob says the business of
the day is for the accused person to take his plea UPDATE 5: Prosecution
wants the Senate President to be seated at the dock Mr. Saraki’s
counsel, J.B. Daudu, says Tribunal is not a court to try criminal cases
Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, insists Mr. Saraki must take his plea.
UPDATE 6: [11:16] Argument still ongoing with Mr. Saraki’s lead counsel
saying that according to paragraph 18, Subsection 1 of the 5th Schedule
of the 1999 Constitution and that the case is either not criminal in
nature or that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear it. UPDATE 7:
The prosecution counsel argued however that going by Section 2 of the
Administration of Justice Act, 2015, the matter can be heard since the
Tribunal was set up by An act of the National Assembly. The Tribunal
chairman is currently analysing both points UPDATE 8: The Tribunal ruled
that the trial is criminal in nature. “I hold that the trial before the
tribunal is purely criminal,” Chairman Danladi Umar said. He further
ruled that the accused enter go ahead to take his plea. UPDATE 9: Saraki
goes to the dock. The 13-count charge of corruption levelled against
him by the Code of Conduct Bureau being read to him. UPDATE 10: Saraki
is asked to plead either guilty or not guilty. UPDATE 11: Saraki
responds: “I believe that I am here as the Senate president, to indicate
my respect for the Tribunal. I am puzzled why I am being compelled. He
said he is not guilty. UPDATE 12: Before pleading not guilty, the Senate
President reiterated the provision of Paragraph 18 of the 5th Schedule
of the Constitution – the point earlier argued by his counsel That
provision says: 18. (1) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal finds a
public officer guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this
Code it shall impose upon that officer any of the punishments specified
under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph and such other punishment as
may be prescribed by the National Assembly. (2) The punishment which the
Code of Conduct Tribunal may impose shall include any of the following –
(a) vacation of office or seat in any legislative house, as the case
may be; (b) disqualification from membership of a legislative house and
from the holding of any public office for a period not exceeding ten
years; and (c) seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property
acquired in abuse or corruption of office. (3) The sanctions mentioned
in sub-paragraph (2) hereof shall be without prejudice to the penalties
that may be imposed by any law where the conduct is also a criminal
offence. (4) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal gives a decision as to
whether or not a person is guilty of a contravention of any of the
provisions of this Code, an appeal shall lie as of right from such
decision or from any punishment imposed on such person to the Court of
Appeal at the instance of any party to the proceedings. (5) Any right of
appeal to the Court of Appeal from the decisions of the Code of Conduct
Tribunal conferred by sub-paragraph (4) hereof shall be exercised in
accordance with the provisions of an Act of the National Assembly and
rules of court for the time being in force regulating the powers,
practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal. (6) Nothing in this
paragraph shall prejudice the prosecution of a public officer punished
under this paragraph or preclude such officer from being prosecuted or
punished for an offence in a court of law. (7) The provisions of this
Constitution relating to prerogative of mercy shall not apply to any
punishment imposed in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.
UPDATE 13: On the various assets allegedly acquired by the Senate
President, which the Conduct Bureau said were beyond his legitimate
earnings, the Senate President said he is not guilty. He said he
acquired the assets through the selling of rice. On Count 3, which
refers to his refusal to declare assets worth N280 million acquired when
he was Kwara State Governor - See more at:
http://shokishombolonews.com/index.php/politics/item/892-all-you-need-to-know-about-saraki-s-appearance-at-code-of-conduct-tribunal#sthash.XkLNeBrc.Ba0oourv.dpuf
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