The Principal State Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, Lawyer Osman Kanu has told journalists that the Lawyers representing the suspended Auditor General Madam Lara Taylor Pearce and one of her deputies Tamba Momoh are responsible for the snail pace in the trial of the ongoing tribunal.

Addressing newsmen at the Ministry of Justice’s conference room past Thursday, Lawyer Osman Kanu assured that the tribunal is up and running and that the sitting Judges are awaiting reply from the defense counsel in response to papers filed by the State Counsel in objection to jurisdictional matter in investigating the tribunal matter.

Lawyer Osman Kanu stated that lawyers representing the state are willingly ready to have a speedy tribunal, addi adding that they have filed their case since June 2022.

“We want the tribunal to be dealt with expeditiously,” he averred.

The Principal State Counsel disclosed that both the suspended Auditor General and her deputy are delaying the tribunal as both of them sought travelling permission from the Tribunal Committee on diverse months.

It could be recalled that a ruling was made by the tribunal Judges in favour of the state against Lawyer Mohamed Pa Momoh Fofana representing the Deputy Auditor General Tamba Momoh on the on the basis that the tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to enquire into the professional work of his client.

Also, members of the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) had raised serious concern over the snail pace of the tribunal, adding that since the suspended Auditor General and one of her deputies Tamba Momoh were suspended from office in November 2021, no charges were brought against them until June 2022.