Court postpones hearing Saraki’s appeal till June 2

A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has adjourned till June 2, 2016 (tomorrow) the hearing of an appeal by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try him on charges, which include false and anticipatory asset declaration.

The appellate court sitting presided over by Justice Moore Adumien yesterday said the adjournment was because the panel could not form a quorum for the hearing of the appeal.

The five-man panel had only three members present in court where the five-man membership was required for the proceeding.

The panel, after waiting for almost two hours made the adjournment due to the absence of the remaining two judges.

Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel to Saraki was however, present in court.

A five-man bench of the appeal court, led by Justice Abdul Aboki had on May 16 fixed May 31 for the hearing of the appeal by Saraki.

The Senate President is by his appeal challenging a March 24, 2016 ruling of the Danladi Umar-led CCT dismissing his application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the charges against him.

The respondent (FG), in the appeal however, filed a cross-appeal against the March 24 ruling of the CCT.

The bench fixed May 31 for the hearing of both the appeal and the cross-appeal following a request by Agabi for a 14-day adjournment.

Agabi had told the court that he needed the adjournment to enable him study the response filed by the respondent.

Agabi said that he was just served with the final reply by the FG with respect to its cross-appeal and he would require time to look at it.

Counsel representing the FG, Mr. Henry Ejiga, did not object to Agabi’s application for adjournment.