Assets declaration: Absence of prosecution witnesses stalls Saraki’s trial

The trials of Senate President Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Abuja, in the 13-count charge slammed against him by the Federal Government suffered a set-back on Thursday owing to the absence of prosecution witnesses.

The Senate President is standing trial over alleged false assets declaration while serving as governor of Kwara State.

Recalled that Saraki’s trial which began in September 2015, had suffered similar fate between April 18 and April 25, 2017, with both adjournments at the instance of the prosecution team.

The prosecution short-listed eight witnesses who would testify against the Senate President in the 13-count charge bordering on allegations of false assets declaration and breach of code of conduct for public officers.

Those on the list of witnesses for the prosecution are, Yahaya Bello, Michael Wetkas, Mustapha Musa, Nura Bako, Adamu Garba, Samuel Madojemu, Abdulrahaman Dauda and Nwachukwu Amazu.

Some of the witnesses were said to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) who investigated the four forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by Saraki.

The head of the prosecution team, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had asked for short adjournment to enable him produce his witnesses.

The head of the two-member panel of the Tribunal, heade by Justice Danladi Yakubu  Umar adjourned the matter till May 4, 2017 for continuation of trial.

The Federal Government had slammed a 13-count charge, bordering on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired when the Senate President held sway as Governor of Kwara State from 2003-2011.

The Senate President pleaded not guilty to the entire charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.