As the trial of Bukola Saraki resumed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday, April 18, a group of protesters stationed themselves around different parts of Jabi District of Abuja – on the road leading to the CCT – in a show of support for the embattled Senate President.
Saraki is on trial at the CCT for false declaration of assets and fraud and has had his every move to stop the trial, blocked by the judiciary.
The protesters were armed with placards which had inscriptions like ‘Nigerian youths and Students stand firm with Saraki’, ‘Let the Senate Continue Working’ and ‘No to the ongoing witch-hunt of Saraki’.
They also chorused slogans like ‘Sai namu mai gaskiya’ in Hausa language, meaning ‘Our man is a person of truth’.
Upon arrival at the CCT at 10:05am, Saraki was hailed by his supporters who chanted ‘Oloye’ continuously.
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar arrived at the court at 10:20am and the trial began.
But as at 10:40am, the trial was put on hold for one hour after the prosecution counsel requested the court to give the lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs some time to finish up another matter which had tied him up.
In response, Umar directed that the trial will henceforth proceed on a daily basis until the conclusion of the case.
He said the trial will begin 10am and end 6pm everyday.
“By virtue of 396 (6) the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, criminal trial of a defendant after arraignment shall proceed day to day. This is what the tribunal intends to do. I’m saying this to both the prosecution and the defence, this tribunal will not wait for anybody.”
“We will start by 10am till about 6pm till the conclusion of the case. For the benefit of those who want to pray we will give a break for about 15 minutes. By 4pm, we will give another 15 minutes break to enable people to stretch their legs.”
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