The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, over alleged false declaration of assets continued on Monday, April 18, 2016, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The Senate President arrived the tribunal in the company of a few lawmakers.
Representative of the prosecutor, one Gabriel Iseghene, however, asked for a stand-down.
He told the tribunal that the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, was before the Court Of Appeal and would crave the indulgence of the tribunal for a one hour stand down.
Chairman of the tribunal, who was visibly angry at the absence of the prosecutor, however, gave in to the request, after the defence counsel, Mr Kanu Agabi, did not object to the request.
Hearing was then rescheduled to commence at 12PM.
Prior to the stand-down, however, the chairman of the tribunal, ordered a day-to-day hearing on the charges pending against the Senate president.
“Let me state it here for both the prosecution and the defence that the trial of the defendant shall proceed on a day-to-day basis till the conclusion of this matter and it will begin from 10am to 6pm,” Justice Umar held.
The trial had resumed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, when prosecutors tendered over 20 documents to prove their charges of false declaration of assets against the Senate president.
The first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wekpas, told the tribunal how loans and fund in the accounts of the defendant were allegedly used to buy property in the United Kingdom, Abuja and Lagos State.
He also said that long after the Senate president ended his tenure as governor of Kwara State, the state continued to pay his salaries until October 31, 2015.
The trial was then adjourned till April 18, 2016 for continuation of hearing and cross-examination.
