Saraki’s trial: Supreme Court criticises EFCC counsel

The Supreme Court on Wednesday berated the federal government
counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, for filing an incompetent application in
the appeal that emanated from false assets declaration suit brought
against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, by government.

The counsel, in an application before the apex court challenging
the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and the Court of
Appeal, failed to file appropriate exhibits of the two lower courts
along with other processes he filed in the court.

Apparently angered by the development at the resumed hearing of
the appeal, the presiding justice, Ibrahim Mohammed, told the
federal government counsel that the court is disappointed that a
lawyer of his standing could file such as incompetent application
knowing what the extant rules of the court are before such
applications are filed.

Mr. Mohammed said, “This court is disappointed that a lawyer of
your standing should file such an incompetent application”, adding
that the Supreme Court did not expect such an application from
him.

Efforts to salvage the situation by the counsel failed as the
panel of justices of the apex court insisted that the application
was incompetent.

The federal government’s lawyer had earlier told the court that
the exhibits are part of the records of the court filed, but he was
berated that it is untenable excuse as he ought to know better the
rules of governing the practice of the court.

Later, he accepted and acknowledged the errors of the
application and pleaded that he be allowed to file the necessary
affidavits with the exhibits.

As a result of his pleading, Justice Mohammed gave him 24 hours
to file the correct affidavits with the exhibits.

The Supreme Court adjourned hearing in the appeal indefinitely
stating that the counsel on both sides would be communicated on the
next hearing date.

Mr. Saraki had through his counsel, Kanu Agabi, approached the
Supreme Court to set aside part of the Court of Appeal decision
which ordered him to defend three out of the 18 count charges on
false assets declaration brought against him by the federal
government.

The Court of Appeal had partly upheld the decision of the
Danladi Yakubu Umar led Code of Conduct Tribunal by nullifying 15
out of the 18 count charges against the senate president for being
frivolous and unsustainable.

Mr. Saraki in his appeal is asking the apex court to uphold the
decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal made in his favour by
nullifying and setting aside the entire 18 count charges against
him.

However, the federal government in its cross-appeal filed
through Mr. Jacobs is praying the court to restore the entire 18
count charges against Mr. Saraki on the ground that both the CCT
and Court of Appeal erred in law in arriving at their
decisions.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday berated the federal government
counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, for filing an incompetent application in
the appeal that emanated from false assets declaration suit brought
against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, by
government.

The counsel, in an application before the apex court challenging
the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and the Court of
Appeal, failed to file appropriate exhibits of the two lower courts
along with other processes he filed in the court.

Apparently angered by the development at the resumed hearing of
the appeal, the presiding justice, Ibrahim Mohammed, told the
federal government counsel that the court is disappointed that a
lawyer of his standing could file such as incompetent application
knowing what the extant rules of the court are before such
applications are filed.

Mr. Mohammed said, “This court is disappointed that a lawyer of
your standing should file such an incompetent application”, adding
that the Supreme Court did not expect such an application from
him.

Efforts to salvage the situation by the counsel failed as the
panel of justices of the apex court insisted that the application
was incompetent.

The federal government’s lawyer had earlier told the court that
the exhibits are part of the records of the court filed, but he was
berated that it is untenable excuse as he ought to know better the
rules of governing the practice of the court.

Later, he accepted and acknowledged the errors of the
application and pleaded that he be allowed to file the necessary
affidavits with the exhibits.

As a result of his pleading, Justice Mohammed gave him 24 hours
to file the correct affidavits with the exhibits.

The Supreme Court adjourned hearing in the appeal indefinitely
stating that the counsel on both sides would be communicated on the
next hearing date.

Mr. Saraki had through his counsel, Kanu Agabi, approached the
Supreme Court to set aside part of the Court of Appeal decision
which ordered him to defend three out of the 18 count charges on
false assets declaration brought against him by the federal
government.

The Court of Appeal had partly upheld the decision of the
Danladi Yakubu Umar led Code of Conduct Tribunal by nullifying 15
out of the 18 count charges against the senate president for being
frivolous and unsustainable.

Mr. Saraki in his appeal is asking the apex court to uphold the
decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal made in his favour by
nullifying and setting aside the entire 18 count charges against
him.

However, the federal government in its cross-appeal filed
through Mr. Jacobs is praying the court to restore the entire 18
count charges against Mr. Saraki on the ground that both the CCT
and Court of Appeal erred in law in arriving at their
decisions.