The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar, on Wednesday dismissed the suit filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki that the former should withdraw from the ongoing trial of the latter at the tribunal over false assets declaration.
Saraki, who is standing trial for false assets declaration had through his lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, filed an application which sought the withdrawal of the tribunal Chairman on the grounds of bias.
Saraki had, in April, filed a similar application asking Umar to withdraw from the case alleging corruption.
The Senate President had alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was using the chairman against him.
However, the tribunal chairman dismissed the application, saying the application lacked merit.
Agabi had cited a statement wherein Umar said Saraki was employing delay tactics because he was afraid of the “final consequences” of the trail.
At today’s resumed hearing, Umar held that the application was founded on “mere conjecture.”
According to Umar, he would not withdraw because there would be no one to sit in judgment over the trial.
He said, “The application to recuse myself has not been contemplated in the constitution. In the absence of a chairman, this trial cannot go on, therefore I cannot recuse myself. The chairman is the tribunal, without the chairman there is no tribunal.
“The application of the applicant is founded on mere conjecture. The application of the applicant is not well-founded, it is hereby dismissed.”
Comments