Politics
CCT chairman, Saraki’s lawyer lash journalists
It was another day of verbal exchanges between the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Umar and the legal team of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday.
But both sides took turns to lash at journalists who they felt were reporting inaccurately, the outcome of the proceedings of the trial on charges of false declaration of assets preferred against Saraki.
Commenting on the alleged media misrepresentation, Umar, who was angered by some media reports that the tribunal had adjourned Saraki’s trial indefinitely, said: “Journalists should be punished for publishing falsehood.
“it is a criminal offence. If I have my way I would bring back Decree 2 of the olden days to take care of the irresponsible journalists in this country.
“How can they dare to publish that we have adjourned the trial of this defendant (Saraki) indefinitely? It is the highest point of irresponsible journalism. But I thank God for them that we are in a democratic era and that is why they are doing what they are doing now.
“They are embarking on sensational journalism to sell their newspapers at the expense of truth. That is not journalism, but a serious crime that can lead them to jail,” Umar said.
Responding, Agabi, who concurred that the media needs to report with accuracy, said he admires journalists a lot, because of their contributions to the enthronement of democracy in the country.
According to him, what Nigeria needed now was peace and not Decree 2, calling on Nigerians to pray for peace and not what can disturb the peace of the nation.
Earlier, Umar had fired a salvo when he expressed his displeasure over what he called the delay tactics being employed by the defence lawyers in Saraki’s.
The Senate President has a legal team consisting of about 100 lawyers, including about 10 Senior Advocates. The team has also spent 11 days on the cross-examination of the first defence witness, Michael Wetkas, and was yet to conclude.
Umar said: “I am not happy at the delay tactics by the defence counsel. And I must say this thing out, that this delay tactics will not reduce the consequences the defendant will meet from this tribunal at the end of the trial if he is found guilty.”
Worried by Umar’s outburst, lead defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, told the tribunal that the defence team was not comfortable with the tribunal Chairman’s view on the allegation of delay made by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs.
“From the defence side, we are not worried about the law and facts that will be placed before this tribunal by the prosecution. But we are worried about enemies, who may wish to use this tribunal to achieve their ulterior motive
.
“As the tribunal Chairman, we love you, we respect you, but we are afraid of consequences, especially as just stated by this tribunal this morning. Our fears have been reinforced, but we pray against consequences that are against natural justice,” Agabi said.
After the exchange, a member of the defence team, Paul Usoro, SAN, continued with the cross-examination of Wetkas.
Wetkas insisted that Saraki procured undeclared properties through bank loans of over N2.5billion.
Responding to questions as to whether there were economic and financial infractions in the activities of Skyview properties limited (a company linked to Saraki), Wetkas said: “The only thing we found out during investigation is that, both Plots 2481 and 2482 Cadastral Zone, Maitama, Abuja were residential properties, and that loans were taken by Skyview from Guaranty Trust Bank to develop the properties.
“The loan was in two tranches of N1.8billion and over N700million. When we interviewed the Managing Director of Skyview, he said the transactions were at the instance of the defendant, and that the property belongs to the defendant, that formed our basis of the ownership.”
The witness also confirmed that his investigative team did not confront Saraki with their findings.
Umar adjourned continuation of proceedings to June 15 after both Agabi and Usoro asked for a long adjournment.
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