Appeal Court postpones hearing of Saraki’s application

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has again suspended its hearing of an application filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in connection to the alleged false asset declaration charges against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Mr. Saraki had in April made an application to the Court of Appeal, challenging a ruling by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, which dismissed his questioning of the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him. The Senate President is asking the higher court to set aside the decision of the tribunal and declare his trial invalid. The tribunal had on May 31 adjourned hearing into the application, following the inability of the judges to form a quorum that comprises five judges. A panel of three judges, led by Justice Moore Adumien had on that day adjourned the hearing, after waiting for about two hours for the other two judges to arrive. Mr. Adumien had adjourned the trial to June 2. But on Thursday, the lead counsel to Mr. Saraki, Kanu Agabi, wrote the court through another counsel in his team, Joe Achogwu, seeking a further adjournment on health grounds. The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, did not object Mr. Agabi’s application.