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In a continuation of cross-examination of the prosecution witness at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in a case against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Abubakar Saraki, on alleged false asset declaration, the Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal re-affirmed the Tribunal earlier decision for the matter to be held day-by-day.
The re-affirmation came in Abuja, at the backdrop of a demand made by one of the defence counsel, Paul Usoro (SAN), for them to have sufficient time to study all the exhibits tendered by their experts, noting that this borders on his client right to fair hearing as granteed by the constitution of the country.
The application which ignited a fierce argument between the contending counsels in the case.
Danladi Yakubu Umar-led Tribunal upheld his earlier decision that the matter must come every day till its final determination as captured in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
However, a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations of the Tribunal, Ibraheem Al-hassan, noted that at the continuation of the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Michael Wetcast, was asked by the lead defence counsel Kanu Godwin Agabi (SAN), if any items in the petition written by the Kwara Freedom Network made any reference to the declaration of assets and if the witness investigated the Accountant General of Kwara State and the officials of State Primary Education Board (SUPEB) over the illegal transfer of funds.
The witness said they were not part of his assignment.
He was further asked whether if he critically examined the petition of the group. He told the court that he did not and insisted that the said petition did not form part of the documents that led to the investigation by his team in 2014.
“The intelligence comes orally or in writing. Sometimes our sources want their reports to be protected and secret, and that is why we call it confidential; the different between the petition and the intelligence report is that people who give the intelligence report ask the commission to protect their identity.”
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to Wednesday, April 20, 2016 to commence 10.00am to 6:00 p.m., for continuation of completion of cross-examination of the prosecution witness.
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The case against Senate President, Dr. Bukola Abubakar Saraki resumed for hearing at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday after the judgement of Supreme Court upholding the competence of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to entertain the matter. At the resumed session in Abuja, the prosecution counsel led by the…
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), hearing the Senate President Bukola Saraki’s alleged false declaration of assets on Wednesday, has banned the use of cameras in its courtroom during proceedings before it adjourned the trial to November 5 and 6. The tribunal's decision followed a pending judgment of the Court of Appeal…