The Code of Conduct Tribunal
By Omolara from ABUJA (Code of Conduct Tribunal Report)
The Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned the adoption and hearing on the charges against Bala Usman (Dr) and Mamud Abubakar, who are two serving Permanent Secretaries from Adamawa State to November 16, 2015.
The report from the Head of Publicity in the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Ibraheem Al-hassan on Friday July 24, 2015 indicated that the counsel for the accused persons led by Aliyu Ahmad told the court during the sitting that the Friday July 24, 2015 case was scheduled for adoption of a no – case submission filed since the 15th of January 2015 about seven months ago. “Aliyu Ahmad expressed readiness to move on with the case, but was served by the prosecutors at the court sitting,” he said.
According to the report, the counsel prayed the tribunal on the grounds of the prevailing circumstances to grant a short term adjournment to enable him study the content of the reply from the prosecutor critically; noting that the matter before the tribunal against his clients was criminal in nature.
He explained further that he requires some time permitted for study of the submission before he can make up his argument.During his presentation to the counsel, the lead prosecutor, Peter Danladi apologised for the delayed reply and the tribunal chaired by Danladi Umar Yakubu (Justice) adjourned the case to September 16, 2015 warning that the defence counsel should ensure the presence of the accused persons at the adjourned date.
The defence counsel in response filed a no – case submission based on three premises – that the evidence adduced by the prosecution is sufficient enough to justify the continuation of the case; also that there is no prima – facie case against the accused person and no evidence adduced by the prosecution to prove essential element of the offence alleged against the accused person and thirdly, that the evidence adduce by the prosecution is unreliable and has been discredited by cross – examination.
