Drama on the ongoing trial of Dr Saraki with the rejection by CCT Chairman to skip some days for the Senate to sit.

13 senators accompanied Saraki to the Monday’s proceedings to face the Code of Conduct Tribunal on 13 counts of false asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, declared that he would not suspend the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in defiance to the sitting of the Senate.

Danladi Umar said on Monday, 18^th of April that the trial would proceed henceforth 10am to 6pm on daily basis. While adjourning the trial at about 5pm on Monday, Umar rejected a request by Saraki’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), for the tribunal to skip Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday‎ which are the days of the week which the Senate sits. The request was opposed by the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), warned that the Senate should not be into the trial.

The Senate is not on trial. The person that is on trial is the defendant. The Senate should sit. It’s a disgrace to our nation to be saying that. In his response, the tribunal chairman reiterated the same point, asking the Senate to continuing siting while the Senate President is allowed to face his trial.

Danladi Umar said that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not on trial, the Senate should sit. The only thing is that the personality of the defendant who happened to be the Senate President. The Senate should continue to sit. The trial was adjourned till Tuesday for cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas.