From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
THE Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki yesterday asked the Court of Appeal to strike out the motion he filed for stay of proceedings in his trial on a charge of false and anticipatory asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Saraki had through his 90-man defence team anchored by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN) filed the motion for stay of proceedings alongside a nine-ground notice of appeal to stop his ongoing trial at the CCT.
The notice of appeal was filed against the March 24 ruling of the CCT in which the Senate President’s application, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the charges against him was dismissed.
But when the case up yesterday at the Court of Appeal, Saraki lead counsel said his client will like to withdraw request for an order seeking the stoppage of his trial at the court of appeal.
Instead, Agabi said the Court should grant his client accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.
The request was not opposed by Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecuting and the respondent in the appeal.
Consequently, Justice Abdul Aboki leading a three man panel of Court of Appeal hearing the matter consequently struck out the motion.