From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
HOPE of speedy disposal of the ongoing trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) suffered a setback yesterday as the trial was adjourned till June 21.
This follows a fresh motion by Saraki in which he accused the tribunal chairman of bias. He asked Umar to hands off his trial saying he (Saraki) has lost confidence in the ability of the tribunal chairman to conduct a fair trial and dispense justice according to law.
It is the second time Saraki is launching a bid to stop his trial at the CCT bordering on false declaration of assets, a violation of the provisions of the code of conduct for public officers.
In the motion on notice, Saraki insisted that Umar was in a hurry to convict him without giving him fair hearing and opportunity to defend himself.
He premised his claim on what he considered a threat by the CCT chairman that the delay tactics allegedly employed by him (Saraki) in his trial on false asset declaration will not reduce the consequences that he would meet from the tribunal at the end of trial.
He argued that the threat made by Umar in the open court was a clear indication that the tribunal had a pre-determined position to convict him at all cost irrespective of the evidences at the trial.
He therefore asked the CCT chairman to step aside from further participation in the trial.
The motion filed by lead his Counsel, Mr. Kanu Godwin Agabi on eight grounds indicated that the threat of consequences issued by Umar has caused Saraki to lose confidence in the impartiality of the chairman and that he is no longer confidence that he can get justice from the tribunal if the chairman continues to participate in the hearing and determination of the case against him.
Saraki denied the allegation by the Tribunal Chairman that his lawyers have been employing delay tactics to slow down or frustrate the trial.
On June 7, the tribunal chairman Umar had threatened Saraki in the open court that he would be made to face the consequences of the delay tactics being employed by his lawyers to delay the trial.
Umar said he was not happy with the delay that the defendant should be ready to face the consequences at the end of the trial because the delay tactics would not vitiate the consequences that would be imposed on him.