Saraki seeks to stall trial again, asks judge to disqualify self

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The PUNCH can authoritatively report that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has filed another application before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, to stall his ongoing trial on charges of false asset declaration.

Saraki whose numerous applications seeking to stall the trial had been dismissed by the CCT itself and others including the Supreme Court, through his fresh motion, is asking the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, to disqualify himself.

Our correspondent learnt that Saraki, through his fresh motion filed before the CCT on Tuesday, asked Umar to disqualify himself from the trial on the basis that the tribunal chairman is allegedly under criminal investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He alleged in the motion that Umar would likely be biased in the handling of his trial since the EFCC which is allegedly leading the prosecution of the Senate President before the CCT is also investigating the tribunal chairman.

The application was filed before the CCT by Mr. Raphael Oluyede, who has not been part of Saraki’s defence team before the CCT.

Oluyede was the lawyer who filed the case seeking to stop Saraki’s trial but which was dismissed by Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court in Abuja last Friday.

The fresh application has not been served on the prosecution in the case.

Punch