By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja
Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki on Wednesday told the Chairman of the Code of conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, who is trying him on false declaration of assets, that he lacked moral justification to preside over his trial.
He insisted at the resumed hearing of his trial that the CCT chairman is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the same agency that allegedly investigated and filed the criminal charges against him.
In a motion on notice argued by one of his lawyers, Ajibola Oluyede, Saraki claimed that since the EFCC is largely responsible for the trial and also responsible for investigation in the ten million naira bribery allegations against the chairman, there was no way the chairman would be objective and impartial in the prosecution.
Oluyede argued that Umar owed the EFCC a favour and is likely to convict Saraki at all cost to pay that favour.
He claimed that since the sword of damacus is dangling on the tribunal chairman’s head, he would be tempted to dance to the tune of the EFCC if only to rescue himself from the allegations against him.
Oluyede, whose submissions made the CCT chairman uncomfortable on several occasions, asked Umar to honourably recuse himself from further participating in Saraki’s trial in the interest of justice.
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