BEVERLY HILLS, June 16, (THEWILL) – The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has accused the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar of bias, asking him to disqualify himself from presiding over the on-going false assets declaration case preferred against the Senate President.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Umar adjourned further hearing in the fresh motion till next Tuesday 21 June, 2016, dampening hopes of a speedy disposal of the case against the former governor of Kwara state. The case was adjourned following the new motion filed on behalf of the Senate President, asking the CCT Chairman to excuse himself from the case.
Saraki, in the fresh application filed by his lawyer, Kanu Agabi SAN, accused Umar of making statements capable of being prejudicing the outcome of the trial, asserting that he (Saraki) has lost confidence in the ability of the tribunal chairman to conduct a fair trial and dispense justice according to law.
In the motion on notice, Saraki insisted that Umar was in a hurry to convict him without giving him fair hearing and opportunity to defend himself.
He premised his claim on what he considered a threat by the CCT chairman that the delay tactics allegedly employed by him (Saraki) in his trial on false asset declaration will not reduce the consequences that he would meet from the tribunal at the end of trial.
The Senate President argued that the threat made by Umar in the open court was a clear indication that the tribunal had a predetermined position to convict him at all cost irrespective of the evidences at the trial. He therefore asked the CCT chairman to step aside from further participation in the trial.
The motion filed on eight grounds indicated that the threat of consequences issued by Umar has caused Saraki to lose confidence in the impartiality of the chairman and that he is no longer confident that he can get justice from the tribunal if the chairman continues to participate in the hearing and determination of the case against him.
Saraki however denied the allegation by the tribunal chairman that his lawyers have been employing delay tactics to slow down or frustrate the trial.
