Saraki’s suit against CCT trial resumes today

This is despite the Supreme Court’s recent judgment affirming the validity of the charges and the jurisdiction of the CCT to try him.

The CCT had after the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on February 5 fixed March 10 for the Senate President’s trial to resume.

Saraki’s fundamental rights enforcement suit challenging the validity of his trial, like his failed appeal, was adjourned on January 13 till Thursday for hearing.

It was earlier listed for hearing on January 13 but the scheduled proceedings were stalled due to the absence of Justice Abdu-Kafarati.

However, the Supreme Court had heard and fixed February 5 for judgment on Saraki’s appeal challenging the competence of the charges preferred against him and the jurisdiction of the CCT to entertain the case.

A seven-man bench of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, eventually dismissed the appeal paving the way for Saraki’s trial to resume before the CCT.

The Senate President’s fundamental rights enforcement suit was first mentioned before Justice Abdu-Kafarati on November 16, 2015, when the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, moved an ex parte application seeking an interim injunction against the CCT trial.

The ex-parte application was filed on November 6, 2015.

Rather than grant the order on November 16, 2015, the judge had directed respondents to the suit to appear in court on Thursday to show cause why the prayers sought by the plaintiff in his ex parte motion should not be granted.