The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting over the false assets declaration case of Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki has ruled that the trial must continue regardless of a pending appeal against the continuation of the case at the Supreme Court.
The decision of the CCT forced Mr. Saraki’s lead lawyers to staged a walkout in protest against the tribunal’s ruling.
Mr. Saraki's lawyers applied to the court for another adjournment of the case citing an appeal filed yesterday at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
After a short adjournment the lead judge of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, ruled that the case would continue and urged Mr. Saraki’s lawyers to prepare for the continuation of the proceedings. However, the ruling angered Mr. Saraki’s lawyers, Abubakar Magaji and Raji Ahmed, who stormed out of the courtroom accusing the judge of judicial rascality
The CCT has adjourned until November 19th, 2015, and urged Mr. Saraki to engage the services of new lawyers or otherwise expect the tribunal to engage state counsels on his behalf. The Senate President was present in the courtroom with a large contingent of Senators bussed to the venue in solidarity with Mr. Saraki.