Saraki must attend trial daily — Justice Umar

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, yesterday said the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, must abandon senate sittings and attend his trial everyday.

He said contrary to what the defence counsel in the trial of  Senate President Bukola Saraki was tendering as reason for adjournment after resumption of trial yesterday, it was Saraki, and not the senate, that was standing trial.
 The defence counsel, Mr. Paul Usoro, (SAN) had earlier appealed to the tribunal to adjourn proceedings beyond today so that members of the senate accompanying the senate president to the tribunal may be able to sit in the National Assembly and carry out their constitutional obligations.

Justice Umar, who had earlier ruled that in line with Section 392 of the ACJA, the trial would continue in court on a daily basis from 10am - 6pm, made it clear that since it was the person of Bukola Saraki that was standing trial, he saw no reason why the National Assembly would not carry on with its duties.

Saraki in his response declared that his trial would not disturb activities at the senate. 
It would be recalled that last year, the senate was shut down twice when Saraki’s case coincided with its sitting.
Saraki spoke after the chairman announced that the proceedings would now hold on a day-to-day basis. 
Saraki in a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu affirmed that the legislative body being an institution, would not be affected by the absence of any of the principal.
“I am the one on trial not the senate. Even though I have been overwhelmed by the solidarity displayed by my colleagues, it is important that the work of the senate is not unduly affected by this process, “he said.
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