Saraki’s corruption trial: Tribunal fixes October 5 for ruling on fresh application

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, on Monday fixed October 5, 2016, for a ruling on a motion by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

Mr. Saraki had on June 14 filed the motion seeking to halt hearing on the criminal charges pending against him, alleging lack of confidence in the impartiality of Mr. Umar.

The charges bordered on false and anticipatory declaration of assets as well as running of foreign bank accounts while governor of  Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.

In his motion, Mr. Saraki said Mr. Umar expressed bias when he warned of the consequences of the frustrating tactics of the defence team.

No amount of efforts made to frustrate the trial would “reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial,” Mr. Umar said at the resumed hearing on June 7.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson,  Ibraheem Al-Hassan, the tribunal also fixed September 21 for judgement in the case of a former Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe.

Mr. Orubebe faces a one-count amended charge that he failed to declare his ownership of a property at Plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja.