6th May, 2015
The Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned hearing till May 14 in a suit filed against former FCT Minister, retired Lt.-Col. Jeremiah Useni over failure to declare his assets while in office.
In a ruling on Wednesday in Abuja, Justice Danladi Umar, the Chairman of the tribunal, ordered the former minister to appear before the tribunal on the adjourned date.
Umar expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the accused to appear before the tribunal since the suit was instituted in 2,000 by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The adjournment followed an application by the prosecution counsel, Mr Peter Danladi, to consult with the AGF on whether or not to proceed with the case.
He said the case had suffered several setbacks following the failure of the accused to appear before the tribunal.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Victor Odjemu, told the tribunal that the failure of his client to appear before it was not a mark of disrespect.
“The failure of my client to appear before the tribunal has never been deliberate and we have never failed to communicate the tribunal,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Useni, who was elected a senator on the platform of the PDP in the March 28 senatorial election, defected to APC shortly afterwards.