Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar on Tuesday accused the Senate President, Bukola Saraki of tactically delaying his trial. Addressing the counsels to the Senate President at the floor of the tribunal, Umar said Saraki is delaying his trial to avoid the “final consequences.” The Senate President is currently standing trial on a 16-count charge of false assets declaration when he was the Governor of Kwara State.
The trial has seen the first prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas spending 11 days in the witness box. This, the chairman frowned at and ordered the Senate President’s counsel to ask direct questions and avoid technicalities so as to fasttrack the trial.
He said, ”When you are asking a witness, go straight to the point. You don’t have to find your way of distorting the witness. This is delaying us. You are a senior lawyer, I don’ t want you to do that kind of tactics to delay the matter. We assure you that whatever happens, we are going to be fair,” he said.
“But it seems you are employing tactical delay to avoid final consequences.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m a gentleman.”
But reacting to Umar’s comment, Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi admitted that the defence was afraid of the final consequences of the trial.
“We are actually afraid of the final consequences. We really are, and all that we are doing is because we are scared of the final consequences.
“Now, it is time for us to disabuse the minds of the court. Please bear with us. We are not worried about the law. We are worried about the prejudice. We are not afraid of you. I pray for you everyday that your lordship sits here for many more years,” he said.
