Date: 2016-05-31

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of the appeals instituted by Senate President, Bukola Saraki challenging the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try him on charges, including false and anticipatory asset declaration till Thursday 2 June following the inability of the court to form a quorum.

Justice Moo Adumie who led a three-man panel said the case cannot be heard with three panel members in attendance as the matter required full panel of five members .

He, therefore, adjourned the case and asked for the understanding of the parties.

Saraki had approached the appellate court challenging a March 24, 2016 ruling of the Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal dismissing his application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the charges against him.

He decided to file the substantive suit which bordered on jurisdiction after the court had struck out his request for a stay of proceeding.

It would be recalled that Saraki's earlier appeal aimed at ending his trial was dismissed by the Supreme Court in its judgment delivered on February 5, 2016, ordering him to submit himself for trial at the CCT.

The Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had cross-appealed the tribunal's ruling, arguing that the CCT failed to make findings on its argument that Saraki's motion, was an abuse of court process.

It contended among others, that the issue of jurisdiction, having been resolved by the apex court in an earlier appeal by Saraki, ought not to be raised again.