The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday adjourned hearing in the alleged false and anticipatory assets declaration trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, until next Wednesday.

The tribunal said it was duty bound to give Mr. Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi, time to see his physician for routine medical examination, a ruling that the prosecution team decried as a “mockery of judicial process”.

Mr. Saraki returned to the courtroom Tuesday morning after weeks of adjournment that court spokesman said was at the instance of the prosecution.

“This matter had to be adjourned because of the prevailing exigencies,” tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar said. “I will let the counsel see his doctors, take his medication and have some rest.”

In recent weeks, Mr. Saraki’s trial had been marred by “needless” delays that was part of a grand “conspiracy by the defence to prolong the trial for as long as Mr. Saraki remained in office,” lead prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs said.

Mr. Umar had last Wednesday said the tribunal would sit on the 7, 8 and 9 June to enable the defence team conclude cross-examination of star prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas, only to adjourn after sitting for about two hours.

Mr. Jacobs strongly objected to today’s adjournment, demanding that the court should finish with Mr. Wetkas’s cross-examination this week as planned.

“Take it easy and understand that you can’t overrule the court, Rotimi” said William Atedze, co-chair of the tribunal. “If any of us drops dead now, this trial would continue it.”

“It’s unfortunate that the court would continue to grant these frivolous adjournments and then humiliate me whenever I raise objections,” Mr. Jacobs told PREMIUM TIMES shortly after the tribunal adjourned.