Alleged False Asset Declaration: Saraki Closes Defence After One Witness

** Witness says no contradiction in Saraki Asset Declaration Form

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki standing trial on allegations of false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT on Tuesday closed its defence after calling on its first witness, Dr Ademola Adebo.

Although, Saraki, through his counsel, Paul Usoro SAN at the commencement of proceedings yesterday told the Tribunal that he has lined up four witnesses to testify in his favour.

He however, made a u-turn when the legal team decided to limit themselves to the first witness.

Shortly after the lone defence witness was cross examined by the prosecution witness, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, the tribunal Chairman Danladi Umar asked parties for direction for further proceedings, Kanu Agabi SAN, lead counsel to Saraki conferred with his client in the box and at the end of the conversation, announced that the defence would no longer call the remaining witnesses.

He consequently applied for a date for adjournment to enable parties adopt their final addresses.

Chairman of tribunal, subsequently adjourned the matter till February 27.

Although Saraki was arraigned in 2015 on 18 count charge, the tribunal had on June 13, 2017, discharged and acquitted Saraki on the grounds of a no case submissoon.

The tribunal had held that the charges against him were based on hearsay.

However, the court of Appeal in delivering judgment on an appeal filed by the Federal government nullified 15 of the charges and ordered the Senate President to respond to only three counts, prompting Saraki to return to the CCT yesterday.

With this development, the two parties would on February 27 address the tribunal on contentious issues only after which a date for final judgment be fixed.

Meanwhile, during cross examination, a defense witness, Dr. Ademola Adebo told the tribunal that there was no contradictions in Saraki’s asset declaration forms as regards charges four, five and six that the Court of Appeal asked Saraki to explain.