False Asset declaration: Supreme Court to hear Saraki's appeal on Thursday.

The Supreme Court has scheduled Thursday for hearing of the appeal by Senate President Bukola saraki.

The court’s decision to hear the appeal this week was contained in hearing notices sent to parties in the case, a copy of which The Inner room  sighted yesterday.

Saraki is, with the appeal, challenging the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to assume jurisdiction over the charge of false asset declaration brought against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

The Court of Appeal, in a split decision of two-to-one upheld the CCT’s jurisdiction to hear the charge, a decision Saraki appealed to the Supreme Court.

The apex court had on November 12 directed the CCT to suspend proceedings in the trial pending determination of the appeal.

A five-man bench of the court, led by Justice John Fabiyi, gave the directive for a halt in the proceedings before the CCT following an undertaking by respondents’ lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), to the effect that since the court has granted accelerated hearing in the appeal, he will prevail on the CCT not to proceed with trial until the apex court pronounce on Saraki’s appeal.

It is, however, expected that a new head would be chosen for the panel hearing the appeal because Justice Fabiyi retired last Wednesday.