The Code of Conduct Bureau yesterday at the ongoing false asset declaration trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Abubakar Saraki, subtly made a move to amend the existing 16-count charges which obstructed the continuation of the cross examination of the PW III, by the lead Prosecution counsel, Chief Kanu G Agabi (SAN).Mr Agabi (SAN), during the cross examination of the PW III, Mr Samuel Madojemu, in Abuja, drew the attention of Tribunal, led by Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, that the lead prosecution counsel Mr Rotimi Jacob (SAN) had filed an amendment of charge of the earlier 16-count charge on the false asset declaration, which the panel Chairman, Justice Umar said that had not been brought to his attention.
However, the defence counsel, insisted that the trial must be discontinue for his client to take his plea on the amended charge, he therefore passionately appealed the Chairman to grant his client short adjournment to study the charge and continue with the case.
The prosecution, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) frowns at the request, he said he actually deliberately refused to raise the amendment openly in the court, because he does not want to obstruct the continuation of the cross examination of his prosecution witness-3, according to him, the changes are not outside the existing exhibit already admitted by the court, as such, he said there is nothing new in the amendment, ‘‘that is why I served the defence counsels, thinking they would allow the trial to continue’’.
However, Mr Agabi (SAN) told Justice Umar, that his client was the person on trial ordinary he should be the one to wish the trial gets hasten, in order to get himself vindicated from the purported charges, he opposed the continuation of the trial, pending when his client and his legal team study the amended charge and be allow to take his plea.
On that premise, the Tribunal adjourned to 23rd February, 2017, for the dependant to take his plea and continuation of the trial.
End
Ibraheem AL-Hassan,
Head, Press & Public Relations,
Code of Conduct Tribunal HQ.
