Code Of Conduct Tribunal Affirms Jurisdiction To Try Sen Bukola Saraki.

Senate President Bukola Saraki trial will commence officially before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja after the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal; Justice Danlami Umar struck out an application by his counsel challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT) today in Abuja dismissed an application brought by Senate President Bukola Saraki challenging its jurisdiction to try him.

Senator  Saraki's lead defense lawyer, Kanu Agabi, had filed a motion seeking to stop and quash the charges of false assets declaration against the senator.

In his submission, Mr. Agabi argued that the failure of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to invite Mr. Saraki to confront him with the breaches and non-compliance in his assets declaration form was fatal to the validity of the charges.

The lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, described the defense lawyer's motion as unfounded, frivolous, absurd and a clear case of abuse of court process. He, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the motion.

While dismissing the application, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Umar Danladi, said that the case was properly within the purview of the tribunal to hear. He indicated that the tribunal was now ready to proceed with the senator's trial.