NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Prosecutor’s Absence Halts Saraki’s trial

The trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki was stood down till in the afternoon by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Monday owing to the absence of the prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacob (SAN).
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Umar Danladi, said the decision was to allow Jacob, the lead counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attend to the case.
The tribunal order was sequel to an announcement by a junior counsel in the EFCC legal team, Gabriel Ezegine that his principal was attending to another case at the Court of Appeal.
Danladi questioned the absence of the EFCC lead counsel, saying that the prosecution should be aware of the provisions of the law on a speedy dispensation of criminal trial.
Saraki is standing trial on a 13-count-charge bordering on false asset declaration and money laundering.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Ex-Military President, Babangida reportedly seriously ill

Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) is seriously suffering from an illness which has greatly emaciated him, ThisDay gathered yesterday from a source close to his hilltop mansion in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The source noted that the former leader now looks pale and is unable to walk unaided without a walking stick or the assistance of his security personnel, and that the illness has made him unable to attend most public functions.
While the newspaper could not ascertain the real cause of his sickness, the source claimed that aside it being age-related; the former military president might be suffering from a relapse of the radiculopathy disease which has troubled the former Nigerian leader since he was head of state.