Federal High court fixes Sept. 30 to hear Saraki’s case

Abuja – The Federal High Court has fixed Sept. 30 to hear the case filed by the Senate President, Sen.
Bukola Saraki, asking the court to stop the Code of
Conduct Tribunal from trying him.

Saraki is charged with false declaration of assets by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the tribunal.

The judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to
arguments from counsel to parties in the matter, ruled
that the suit was ripe for hearing.

“ Since all the parties have filed relevant documents, this case is ripe for hearing and in order not to waste the court’s time, the case is adjourned to Sept.30 for
hearing.’’

Counsel to Saraki, Adebayo Adelodun, had said that in
spite of the notice served on the tribunal by the Federal
High Court, it had gone ahead to entertain the matter.

He drew the attention of the court to a statement made
by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar,
that the court could not summon it because it had
coordinate jurisdiction with the court.

Counsel to the Federal Government Taiwo Abidogun,
however, argued that Ministry of Justice, Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal had not received any notice from the court.

Abidogun said that was why the tribunal sat on Friday
and issued a bench warrant against the Senate President.

He said that even if service was made, it must have come after the tribunal had risen.

Mohammed, however, corrected Abidogun and provided
evidence to show that the notice was actually served the respondents.