Omotolani Oresanwo
The code of Conduct Tribunal has given the Senate President, Bukola Saraki a day grace to appear before the tribunal and defend the 13-count charge of alleged corruption levied against him.
Despite the arrest warrant and the tension generated by the warrant, the Senate President did not appear before the tribunal sitting today.
The trial which commences last friday borders on corruption and false declaration of assets by the Senate President who filed a suit for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal immediately.
Saraki was however represented at the tribunal on friday by a team of lawyer led by Joseph Daudu.
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Despite the appeal, the Tribunal resumed the trial on Monday without the senate president appearing.
At the hearing, Mr. Saraki’s lawyers objected to the sitting contending that the Tribunal was incompetently constituted.
They argued that the 1999 Constitution provided that the Tribunal can only sit with three of its members, namely the chairman and two members present as against two – chairman and one member – which was the case when the trial resumed.
However, Mr. Umar responded by referring to the Interpretation Act, which says the chairman and one member could sit during any trial.
President Muhammudu Buhari has cleared the air on the raging issue that he had no hand in the trial of the Senate President but however stated that the court have a duty to perform.
