File: Saraki sitting in the CCT dock

A fresh attempt by Senate President Bukola Saraki to stop his ongoing trial for false declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal failed on Wednesday.

Mr Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) dismissed application by Saraki to disqualify himself from the trial over allegation of bias.

The senate president had in the application argued that the CCT Chairman has demonstrated bias against him and thus, he has no confidence of getting justice from him.

The Senate President saif his fears were based on a statement uttered by Mr Umar during the trial that delaying the tribunal proceedings will not save him (Saraki) from “final consequences of the trial.”

He added that the statement indicated that the CCT chairman is determined to find him guilty of the 13 count charges of false declaration of assets by all means.

‎ Umar however ruled that his withdrawal from the suit would mean the end of the trial in the judgment he delivered on Wednesday.

“The application to recuse myself has not been contemplated in the constitution. In the absence of a chairman, this trial cannot go on, therefore I cannot recuse myself. The chairman is the tribunal, without the chairman there is no tribunal.

“The application of the applicant is founded on mere conjecture. The application of the applicant is not well-founded, it is hereby dismissed,” Umar ruled.

He therefore adjourned the trial to 7 November.