Trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over alleged false
declaration of his assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has been
adjourned till April 18, 2017 for continuation of trial.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, adjourned
to the above date after he overruled an objection by Paul Erokoro
(SAN), counsel to Saraki, to stop the re-examination of the third
prosecution witness in the 13-count charge preferred against him by the
federal government.
Saraki is standing trial over allegations bordering on false and
improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as
Governor of Kwara State from 2003-2011.
At the resumed trial yesterday, counsel to the federal government,
Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), asked the prosecution witness, Mr. Samuel Madojemu,
to clarify his evidence during cross examination that contradicts what
was said in his evidence in chief and during cross examination.
He specifically asked the witness to explain what he meant by saying
that the column in the form prepared by the Code of Conduct Bureau for
assets declaration does not include mortgage, debit card, credit card,
cash lodgment.
Upon asking the question, Paul Erokoro (SAN), who led the defence team
for the Senate President objected to the line of questioning, adding
that, “The witness cannot be asked to explain, to add to, to contradict
or to vary the content of CCB 1 (the assets declaration form).
He said the CCB 1 prepared by the bureau amounts to official proceedings
being reduced to a form of evidence as contained in Section 128 (1) of
the Evidence Act and added that the wording in the asset declaration
form of the defendant, which was tendered as exhibit is clear and
unambiguous.
Erokoro then asked the tribunal to stop the prosecution from the line of re-examination.
In his submissions, Jacobs urged the tribunal to ignore the objection,
adding that the question he asked the witness has to do with the
evidence he gave in his evidence in chief and cross examination.
He said the question is not intended to vary or amend the content of any
document and that Section 128 of the Evidence Act is not an inhibition
to the prosecution as the prosecution is entitled to ask question to
clear any contradiction to the evidence given during cross examination.
Rotimi said there are even exceptions to Section 128, which he noted
allows oral evidence where issues of crime, fraud, illegality and
intimidation are involved.
The Chairman of the tribunal, in his ruling over-ruled the objection of
the defence counsel and asked the prosecution to continue with his
question to the witness, which he noted do not fall within the purview
of Section 128 of the Evidence Act.
When the same question was put forward to the witness, he said every
declarant is required by law to declare his assets/liability, and that
of his wife, who is not a public officer and that of his children below
the age of 18 years, honestly within 90 days of the receipt of the asset
declaration form.
The witness told the tribunal that Saraki filled the same CCB asset declaration form other public officers filled.
The tribunal adjourned till April 18, 2017 for continuation of trial.
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