Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Senator Bukola Saraki in the dock
The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki on 13-count charge of false assets declaration assumed a religious toga for a few minutes on Monday with the Quran, the Bible and Moses making incursions.
The descent into religion began when Mr. Umar shortly after the court resumed from a short adjournment informed the defence team that their request for day to day records of the of the court on proceedings can no longer be entertained as it is becoming too burdensome on the registry of the Tribunal.
Mr. Umar also said asking the court to produce the day to day records of proceedings is not in accordance with the rule of court.
“We are not going to abide you notice of proceedings day by day. We are not bound to give you records of proceedings day by day,” said Mr Umar.
He added that the defence can only demand for the records of the court if they are going on an appeal.
But he had hardly finished when Kanu Agabi, the lead defence counsel rose up in protest. “My Lord, the Quran said it is not good anytime you raise up your hand, it comes down empty,” Kanu, a Pentecostal Christian said.
Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Umar Danladi
“Everyday, we raise our hands to you, we return empty,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said implying that the Chairman of the Tribunal always turned turned down the request of the defence team.
Mr. Umar, a Muslim quickly interjected that he has been conducting proceedings at the Tribunal in a very fair manner.
And to also justify his action, Mr. Umar said before God will weigh possibility of any request before granting it and even if the request will be granted it may not be immediate.
To back up his claims, he also made allusion to the Bible, pointing out that, when Moses asked God to destroy Pharaoh, the request was granted but it took 40 years for it to manifest.
He added that producing the day to day records of proceedings will be too burdensome as it will mean the court registry staff would have to wait behind after the court closes at 6:00 pm, especially now that the trial will be conducted on a day to day basis to type it.
“At times you finish by 5:00 pm and you expect the registry to wait and type, it is too burdensome,” he said.
Paul Usoro, SAN a member of the defence team further tried to persuade Mr Umar to change his mind.
Usoro said it is not true that the court records can only be applied for when the parties are going on an appeal. “This is a major trial and it is important that the records are available to the defence,” Usoro said.
The Chairman stuck to his gun, insisting that, it will not be possible to provide daily records to the defence team if the trial is being done day by day.
But the defence said they are not the one that imposed the day to day rule, reminding him that he took the decision for the trial to be held on daily basis.
But Justice Umar insisted that the court will not make day to day the records of the court available and that the defence can declared for it only after a week.
