– The CCT chairman, Danladi Umar has ordered that only one lawyer from Bukola Saraki’s team should examine Michael Wetkas
– One of Saraki’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro said there is no law which stated that a different counsel cannot cross-examine a witness
Danladi Umar, chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Tuesday, May 17, said that only one lawyer should cross examine the witness, Michael Wetkas.
He said the lawyer responsible for the cross examination should be only Kanu Agabi, the lead counsel to Bukola Saraki, the Senate president.
Umar directed the defence counsel to restrict the number of lawyers who would cross-examine the prosecution witness to just one, saying that the conduct of the cross-examination had been untidy with the frequent change of lawyers by the defence team.
However, the CCT chairman on Tuesday, May 10, ruled in favor of Saraki, for the first time since the commencement of the trial when he permitted more than one lawyer to cross examine Wetkas.
Paul Erokoro, one of the counsel to Saraki asked that he wanted to cross examine Wetkas, who is also Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detective but Rotimi Jacobs, the lead counsel to the federal government objected to his request.
READ ALSO: Group claims Justice Umar abandoned other cases for Saraki
He also said there is no law which stated that a different counsel cannot cross-examine a witness, adding that they will take their time to do things properly and we will not be stampeded.
However, Jacobs disagreed saying that the reason for a lead counsel is to avoid different lawyers to address the court.
He added that the counsel that started cross examination should finish it as the witness cannot be cross-examined by three lawyers.
However, Umar ruled in support of Saraki saying that the constitution allows Saraki to have as many representatives as possible and the case will be treated as the law says.
READ ALSO: Saraki seeks more powers for ECOWAS parliament
Saraki has been at the tribunal since September 22, 2015 over 16 counts of corruption bordered on corruption.
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