Saraki: Again, absence of prosecution witness forces CCT to adjourn

Again, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the prosecution counsel in the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), in Abuja on Thursday, asked the tribunal to adjourn the matter due to the absence of witness.

Addressing the tribunal when the case resumed on Thursday, Jacobs said his witness for the day was unavailable.

He said the witness, who is Saraki’s account officer, informed him that he would be undergoing a surgery, hence, he would not make himself available to testify in the trial.

Jacobs, therefore, urged the tribunal to adjourn the matter. The prayer was not opposed by the defendant’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN).

In his ruling, after the submissions, Danladi Umar, chairman of the tribunal, adjourned the case till May 4 for continuation of trial.

This is the fourth time in recent weeks that Saraki’s trial has been adjourned at the instance of the prosecution.

The case was initially slated for April 18, but it was shifted to 25, and then to yesterday (Thursday), and now to May 4.

Earlier on Thursday, the prosecution tendered before the tribunal a statement made by the Senate president to the EFCC on August 13, 2013 through Alvan Gurummaal, a detective of the agency.

Saraki is facing 18 count charges of false asset declaration. His trial started in September 2015.