….I can’t be intimidated, says Ekweremadu

Police on Monday began the probe of an allegation of forgery of Senate Rules leveled against some principal officers of the chamber in collaboration some management team of the National Assembly.

The presence of police officers from the Force Headquarters, Abuja at the Senate wing of the National Assembly, signaled the commencement of the probe of the allegation leveled against some supporters of Senate President Bukola Saraki and key members of the National Assembly management.

The Police officers were sighted in strategic offices, including those of the Senate President, Senate Clerk, where important records of the Senate are kept.

The Police investigation team met with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and some principal officers over a petition that the senate standing rules were substituted without authorization, to pave the way for Saraki’s emergence as Senate President.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Abayomi Shogunle who confirmed this to journalists said that the meeting took place in the office of the clerk on Monday.

He denied that the police invited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu specifically to the Police headquarters.

Shogunle said that a senator petitioned that the standing rules were substituted without authorisation of the senate.

He disclosed that the meeting where some senators were questioned followed request by the police to the clerk who facilitated it.

He also confirmed that the petitioner, whose name was not disclosed, had made statement to the police over the allegation.

Asked whether the petition was specifically targeted at the Deputy President of Senate, the deputy force spokesman said it was not.

Shogunle said that contrary to report the deputy senate president was not invited by the police, and declined further comment.

Some members of the upper legislative chamber had, under the aegis of the Unity Forum, alleged that Senator Saraki camp altered a section of the chamber’s Rules.

The Secretary of the Unity Forum, Senator Suleiman Othoman Hunkuyi had on June 30 filed the petition before the Inspector General of Police, alleging that the Senate Standing Order of 2011 was forged to pave way for the controversial election of Saraki as Senate President.

In the Petition, Hunkuyi claimed that the Standing Order used by the Clerk of the National Assembly to conduct the election which Saraki won was at variance with what the 7th Senate used all through for its lawmaking businesses.

The Senator alleged that the alteration made on the Standing Order was never approved by the 7th Senate before it wound up on June 8, 2015.

He expressed concern on the source of a new Standing order which he said “purports to allow secret instead of open ballot system prevalent in all Senate elections as permitted by extant senate rules”.

He therefore appealed to the Police to wade in by investigating his allegations in the interest of progress of democracy and specifically to end the crises rocking the National Assembly over the controversial elections of its officials.

Meanwhile, Senator Ekweremadu has Monday vowed never to succumb to any threat or intimidation from any quarter.

He said he remained on the ground to perform the functions constitutionally assigned to him as Deputy Senate President after his election on June 9, which he said, came about with support from his colleagues in both the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said, so far, the situation was under control and assured his supporters both within and outside Nigeria that security had been beefed up around him in respect of the leadership crisis in the Senate.

Ekweremadu in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu said he would continue to do all in his capacity to protect democracy and the independence of the legislature.

He thanked supporters who he said had been placing calls to him from across Nigeria on the leadership crises rocking the Senate.

He said the calls kept coming from “well-meaning Nigerians, elder statesmen, Governors, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives across party lines, concerned members of the international community, youth and women organisations, royal fathers, and Civil Society Organisatons, among others.

The statement read: “Senator Ekweremadu wishes to assure all Nigerians and concerned members of the international community that everything is under control and that all democratic steps are being taken to preserve the nation’s democracy and protect the independence of the legislature.

“The Deputy President of the Senate further wishes to assure Nigerians that necessary steps are being taken by the security agencies to beef up security around him.

“He appreciates the nation’s security agencies for their professional handling of the situation so far, and acknowledges with a deep sense of gratitude the numerous youths across the country who have volunteered to provide additional security around him.”



Source: http://dailytimes.com.ng/police-storm-senate-for-clues-on-forgery-charge/

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Waste of time.

Why do I have this funny feeling that Saraki and Ekwerenmadu will not last on their seat before the end of the year?

pharmagba:
Why do I have this funny feeling that Saraki and Ekwerenmadu will not last on their seat before the end of the year?

you are not the only person feeling the same. Especially Ekweremadu.