On-trial Nigerian Senate chief enters 'no-case' defense

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria’s Senate president said on Thursday he would be making a “no-case” submission before a tribunal where he is standing trial a range of charges, including false assets declaration, operation of foreign accounts and corruption.

The Nigerian government on Thursday closed its case against Bukola Saraki after calling four witnesses in all.

Asked to open the defense, Paul Erokoro instead urged the court to provide them with records of the proceedings in enough time for them to file the no-case submission.

Tribunal chairman Danladi Umar adjourned the matter to June 8.

If found guilty, the Senate chief will lose his seat in parliament, forfeit properties alleged not to have been declared and be barred from holding public office for 10 years.

The government may also try him on other charges not within the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

However, the tribunal will dismiss the case if Saraki’s no-case submission succeeds, effectively turning the page on a corruption trial many say would go down as one of the most celebrated in the country's history.

Saraki is the first Senate chief to be put on trial while in office.

Filed in 2015, the case has suffered several adjournments as appellate courts repeatedly turned down bids by the politician to truncate the trial.