False Asset Declaration:CCT Resumes trial against Senate President today

January 11, 2017

At the resumed hearing of false asset declaration trial against the Senate President Dr BukolaAbubakarSaraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel led by Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN) took his turn to commenced the re-examination of the first prosecution witness (PWI), Mr Michael Wetkass of the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC), where prolonged legal gridlock ensued.

Meanwhile the cross examination of the PWI was completed since November 8, 2016 which was adjourned till today, the defence counsel, Paul Osuro (SAN) opposed the pattern adopted by prosecution in re-examining MrWetkass on the issues arising from evidence in chief he provided, the defence felt Mr Jacob is introducing new issues which would distort earlier submission made by Mr Wetkass.

However, the led prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacob (SAN), insisted that he only try to clarify ambiguity arising from the identification of the properties in contentions which were identified in different names; as No 15 a and B MacDonald street Ikoyi Lagos and 15 MacDonald street block A, which according to him would likely confuse the Judges.

Consequently, Chairman of the panel Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, advised the prosecution to bring up the issues during his address to the court and that brought the end of the re-examination of Wetkass, however Mr Jacob, sought the permission of the court to discharge PW1, which Justice Umar, granted.

Subsequently, Mr Jacob applied the court to grant him day to day trial; according to him some of his next witnesses would be coming from Lagos and if the trial goes as it is would pose him challenges in conveying them into Abuja.

But the lead defence counsel Chief Kanu G. Agabi (SAN), objected the move by Rotimi, nevertheless, the Chairman, Justice Umar ruled that the Tribunal at a moment cannot go on day to day proceeding on the case, because of other matters pending before the court.

Justice Umar assured the litigants that the matter would come up next week, which the Tribunal would decide whether to go by it or otherwise.

The matter was later adjourned to 17^th of January, 2017 for continuation of the matter, after due consultation between the litigants.

Ibraheem AL-Hassan,

Head, Press & Public Relations,

CCT Abuja.