SaharaReporters has uncovered allegations that Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Hajio Sarki-Bello facilitated a deal to temporarily halt Senate President Bukola Saraki’s corruption trial. Leveraging the absence of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who was traveling in Brazil, Sarki-Bello reportedly met with Toyin Sanusi, an aide to Saraki, to coordinate with ethically questionable justices. These meetings allegedly took place at a residence in Abuja to secure a reprieve from the ongoing Code of Conduct Tribunal proceedings regarding Saraki's assets. The Supreme Court panel, led by Justice John Fabiyi, ultimately decided to halt the trial despite prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs' requests to allow the CCT to suspend proceedings for defense preparation. Justice Fabiyi, who is from Kwara State and facing mandatory retirement in November 2016, has a controversial history of delivering verdicts that favor powerful political interests.