Senator Bukola Saraki

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Nigeria’s  Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Monday asked the Court of Appeal to strike out the application he filed for stay of proceedings in his trial on a charge  of false and anticipatory asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Saraki had filed the motion for stay of proceedings alongside a nine-ground notice of appeal to stop his ongoing trial  at the CCT.

The notice of appeal was filed to challenge the March 24 ruling of the CCT in which  the Senate President’s application, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the charges against him was dismissed.

But at the commencement of hearing of the appeal on Monday, Kanu Agabi lead counsel to the Senate President said his client will like to withdraw request for an order seeking  the stoppage of his trial at the court of appeal.

Instead, Agabi said the Court should grant his client accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.

The request was not opposed by Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecuting and the respondent in the appeal.

Consequently, Justice Abdul Aboki leading a three man panel of Court of Appeal hearing the matter consquently struck out the motion.

The Court subsequently asked the parties to perfect all the processes and papers related to the appeal before a date will be given for the hearing.