Senator Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, June 7, returned to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, where he has been answering to allegation leveled against him regarding false asset declaration.
The Senate president’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal resumes after weeks of rescheduling at the instance of prosecution team. Sources reveal that the tribunal hopes this week to conclude the cross-examination of prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas. The cross-examination began in April, a span that prosecution team has continued to express its dissatisfaction about. Both teams are currently sparring over the significance of questions being asked by the defence. Paul Usoro, counsel to Mr. Saraki, has been grilling Mr. Wetkas, an EFCC official, for weeks, over evidences he tendered against the top lawmaker before the court. Below are updates of how Nigeria’s no 3 man fared at thge CCT today.
Kanu Agabi the lead counsel to Saraki requested an adjournment to allow him see his doctor. The tribunal weighed an adjournment for another week, maybe next Wednesday. Mr Jacobs strongly objects this, saying the court should finish with Mr Wetkas this week as planned. “Take it easy and understand that you can’t overrule the court, Rotimi” said William Atedze, co-chair of the tribunal. “If any of us drops dead now, this trial would continue it.” The defence, prosecution and the tribunal chairmen weighed the option of adjourning. Mr. Agabi said Mr Jacob used to be his boy back in the day and that they’ve eaten from the same pot before.
Cross-examination of Mr. Wetkas continues over the discrepancies in the Maitama property Saraki was alleged to have purchased in 1993 but which he allegedly failed to declare in 2003 when he became governor in Kwara.
A chairman of the tribunal, Mr. Umar, is angry over “rude” comments by senators and other supporters of Saraki. The individuals, seated in the court gallery, had repeatedly asked Rotimi Jacobs, prosecution counsel, to “sit down”. This infuriated Mr. Umar, who said the senate president’s supporters’ conduct was becoming unbearable in his court, warning that they should “keep quiet”. “If I hear anybody ask the counsel to sit down, I will deal with the person and nobody can question me about it. In fact, I will hold the person in contempt and sentence the person to hard labour and nobody will question me,” Mr Umar warned.
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