'Disqualify Yourself ' lawyer tells Judge

Justice Danladi Umar, Chairman CCT

The on-going saga of the trial of the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola  Saraki, which has been filled with twists and turns took another dimension on Thursday, 21/4/2016 while the matter was being heard in court at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The drama occured when a lawyer to the embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki attempted to disrupt the tribunal's proceedings at its resumed hearing.
It all started when Raphael Oluyede, one the lawyers who represented Saraki in a case thrown out by a Federal High Court last week, got up to move a motion asking the CCT Chairman,Justice Danladi Umar to disqualify himself.

Oluyede appeared to be acting a script, as two lead attorneys to Saraki, Messrs Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Paul Usoro (SAN), were absent from court. Prosecutor to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs, interjected, telling Oluyede that Saraki's lead attorneys had disowned the motion. He also reminded him that he was not listed as one of the 90 lawyers to the accused person.

Immediately Jacobs finished speaking, Justice Umar described Oluyede as a "busybody" in the case and urged him to let the day's proceedings commence because he was not ready to entertain the motion.

Oluyede ignored the tribunal chair, insisting that he must move his motion.

Justice Umar reminded him that he was the chair of the tribunal and that he would not hesitate to commit him to prison for contempt.

After severally telling Oluyede to sit down and the lawyer stubbornly insisting that he must move his motion, Umar called the police guards at the tribunal to throw Oluyede out.

Jacobs then intervened, pleading that the judge should temper justice with mercy. Jacobs' plea was accepted by the judge, and the issue was resolved, allowing the tribunal continue with the business of the day.