CCT TRIAL- SARAKI WITHDRAWS APPLICATION TO STOP TRIAL, APPLIES FOR ACCELERATED HEARING

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday withdrew his application seeking to stop the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, from prosecuting him.

Saraki through his lead counsel, Kanu Agabi at the Appeal Court withdrew the application and asked the court to grant accelerated hearing on the ongoing trial.

Agabi said, “When your lordship has read such a voluminous motion, it is unfair to say we are withdrawing. But we have to. We want to withdraw the motion.

“In the motion, dated April 4, we prayed your lordship to stay proceedings at the CCT pending the hearing of our appeal. But we now want to urge your lordship to grant accelerated hearing to our appeal.

“My Lord, we appeal to you to grant us accelerated hearing.”

Counsel to the Fderal Government, Rotimi Jacobs who did not object to the application said, “I have no objection to the withdrawal.”

A three-man panel of judges lead by Justice Abdul Aboki after listening to both counsels struck out the application.

Saraki who is currently standing trial at the CCT for false declaration of assets had filed the application before the Appeal Court in Abuja in a bid to halt the tribunal from trying him on the basis that he was not given fair trial but the tribunal had on March 24, dismissed the application.

Following the tribunal’s refusal to the dismissal of the application, Saraki filed an appeal at the Appeal Court.