The Federal High Court has fixed Sept. 30 to hear the case filed by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, asking the court to stop the Code of Conduct Tribunal from trying him.
Saraki is charged with false declaration of assets by the Code of Conduct Bureau at the tribunal.
The judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to arguments from counsel to parties in the matter, ruled that the suit was ripe for hearing.
“ Since all the parties have filed relevant documents, this case is ripe for hearing and in order not to waste the court’s time, the case is adjourned to Sept.30 for hearing.’’
Counsel to Saraki, Adebayo Adelodun, had said that in spite of the notice served on the tribunal by the Federal High Court, it had gone ahead to entertain the matter.
He drew the attention of the court to a statement made by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, that the court could not summon it because it had coordinate jurisdiction with the court.
Counsel to the Federal Government Taiwo Abidogun, however, argued that Ministry of Justice, Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal had not received any notice from the court.
Abidogun said that was why the tribunal sat on Friday and issued a bench warrant against the Senate President.
He said that even if service was made, it must have come after the tribunal had risen.
Mohammed, however, corrected Abidogun and provided evidence to show that the notice was actually served the respondents.
Mohammed in his ruling said that the matter was ripe for hearing since both parties had filed the relevant documents.
He fixed Sept. 30 for hearing.
The Federal Government had filed 13 charges against Saraki on alleged false assets declaration.
Saraki, who was scheduled to appear before the tribunal on Sept. 18 to answer charges against him, filed an exparte motion at the Federal High Court, asking the court to stop his trial.
The court had ordered that the Federal Ministry of Justice, the tribunal and the bureau to appear before it and show cause why Saraki’s prayer should not be granted.
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