Justice Danladi Umar has finally placed a restriction on the number of lawyers of the embattled senate president, Saraki which will be allowed to question a witness for the sake of time.
Bukola Saraki
The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, on Tuesday, said he was no longer going to allow the defence team in the ongoing corruption trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the privilege to cross-examine a witness with different lawyers.
Mr. Umar said this was necessary to save time. Senator Bukola Saraki in Court facing charges of corruption
“It is certainly unreasonable that all the 100 counsel of the defence will have a bite at the cherry,” Mr. Umar said.
Mr. Umar’s new position contradicts the one he held last Tuesday when he said the court would give the defence team all the windows it needs to present its case.
Lead prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, last Tuesday, objected to the use of different lawyers to cross-examine a witness, describing such as a clear waste of time by the defence.
After a heated argument that lasted over an hour, between defence and prosecution teams, the chairman handed down his ruling.