Saraki hires 66-lawyer defence team


Senate President Bukola Saraki appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Friday to face false declaration of assets charges, with 66 lawyers on his defence team.

Senate President Bukola Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, took about 10 minutes to read the long list of advocates and for them to acknowledge their presence at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Saraki is facing 13 counts of false declaration of assets relating to his time as governor of the north central state of Kwara.

There was no immediate explanation about why so many lawyers were needed but it is not the first time in Nigeria a defendant has hired such a profusion of briefs.

Last month, Rickey Tarfa, a prominent lawyer facing charges of obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice, appeared in court in Lagos with a 90-strong defence team.

The judge in that case said such a huge number amounted to “harassment and intimidation of the court”.

Saraki’s case has been seen as a test of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, given his position in the hierarchy after the head of state and his deputy Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari is trying to stamp out endemic corruption and impunity. Several high-profile politicians and public figures have been arrested, charged and are now standing trial.

Saraki, who denies buying real estate he did not declare with stolen public money, has challenged the competency of the tribunal to try him all the way to the Supreme Court.

The apex body last month ordered the trial to go ahead.

But the case was adjourned again until March 18, as Agabi said a fresh application had been lodged over the jurisdiction of the tribunal, which handles cases of bureaucrats accused of graft.

Prosecutor Rotimi Jacobs described the new defence motion as “a deliberate attempt to scuttle today’s trial so that this matter will not go on.”

http://m.guardian.ng/news/saraki-hires-66-lawyer-defence-team/

Let's Do A Simple Calculation..

A Service Of A SAN costs at least 10 Million Naira...

Now Multiply 10M X 66 SANS Hired By Saraki

=660,000,000 Naira Just to Defend Himself...

Yet IPOB Youths Adopted Him As Their Son And Said, He Was Not Corrupt...

No Wonder IPOB Has Been Classified A Terrorist Organization..

lalasticlala

In the incorruptible temple of justice it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives neither by the multitude of counsels , rather justice serve those who serves the truth.

Liars or Lawyers are the most corrupt professionals in Nigeria always hiding under the veil of an accused is innocent until proven guilty. They forget so easily the maxim: he who comes to equity must come with a clean hand. It's obvious Saraki's hands are not clean.

What most of these so called Senior Advocates of Nigeria knows best to do is intimidate, bribe and practice ocultism.

Buhari put it rightly when he said and I quote "judiciary is my main headache.

What money can do.
He has the money, let him spend it. But your cup will full some day. You can run o but you can't hide. All the arms are kwarapt. From the executive down to the judiciary. Gosh

66

1m, at least for each lawyer. that's about 65million naira. Saraki is loaded, respect him for being successful regardless.

ezebunafo:
66 corrupt lawyers,The judiciary is our problem in this fight against corruption.

Ezebunafo, now I know u are actually ezebunafo in terms of law...so he should not defend himself? nna eh...gbawa door.

66 corrupt lawyers,The judiciary is our problem in this fight against corruption.

ok

Desperation leads to madness

All the best to him.
There is nothing wrong in what he did. The final outcome will be independent of the number of defence lawyers.
I won't join the bandwagon to tag him guilty cos it is not my job to do so.

Hmmmmmm. Buhari was right with his words that the judiciary is his problem with his war against corruption.

Steal better money, use 10percent of the money to hire better lawyers. You're free!

Haha... 66Lawyers... Sogun laye niii... if u are indeed innocent why will u need scores of lawyer.... Afi suuru

Those lawyers must chop na

Na wao, this man called Saraki na funny man oh

This man think that he is attending a political rally.

I hope EFCC will look into the background of those lawyers too.

that numberis too small, he should have hired a thousand or so the the judges would be well intimidated. criminal minded human being.

Some of us actually offered our service pro bono. Bullharry must be cut to size.

Nsogbu di kwa. 66 cha?

66 lawyers that is a lawyer to a case/crime charge

His hands aint clean and its obvious

lol.

Who needs 66 lawyers to say

"i did not steal money" if the statement i true.

That won't stop him to rot in Kiri kiri.

Buhari espeakelekwe make ne confuse ya adema.

That is the power of money.

We dey wait for the outcome..
In Phyno voice ''Udo''..



Nairaland official comedian

END TIME LAWYERS!

60 man defense team is only as good as useless if the evidence brought against him is air and water tight.
I have a feeling saraki will go free.
Abi no be naija again?