Senate rules forgery: FG to arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu Monday

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and two others, may be appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja, over alleged criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, 2015.

The Federal Government had, through the office of the Attorney General filed the charges the top Senate officers as well as former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

The case file against the four accused persons with suit No. CR/219/16 has since been assigned to Justice Yusuf Haliru of the Federal High Court, Abuja before whom they are to be arraigned tomorrow.

In the affidavit attached to the case file, which was filed on June 10, 2016, the investigative police officer swore that the investigation into the case had been concluded.

The two count charges read: “That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about, the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired amongst yourselves to forge the Senate Standing Order, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed the offence of conspiracy, punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law.

“That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with fraudulent intent, forged the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended), causing it to be believed as the genuine Standing Order, 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the 8th Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when you knew that the said Order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law.”

It would be recalled that some lawmakers under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF) petitioned the police, alleging forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 that produced Saraki and his deputy, Ekweremadu.

The police then invited former Senate President David Mark and Senator Ekweremadu. They were first summoned by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department in July 2015, to answer questions over their roles in the alleged forgery of Senate rules.

Also invited by the police were the former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Senator Ita Enang, who served as chairman, Committee on Rules and Business in the Seventh Senate.

all is well

Another case that will just be postponed indefinitely

Another case that will just be postponed indefinitely.
SMH

Gestapo Style Dictatorship is gradually taking over. We warned of this during the Campaign and Elections

Who is advicing this dullard,its like they hate to see a peaceful country....senate its the least of our problems for now.

SARAKI, THE FACE OF CORRUPTION

Let them be brought to swift justice for their alleged crime.

PassingShot:
Let them be brought to swift justice for their alleged crime.

Maybe they should debate buhari's certificate first.

youngeagle:
Who is advicing this dullard,its like they hate to see a peaceful country....senate its the least of our problems for now.

Because it is the senate that is why they are least of problem. Catch a thief in the street or a student that gets involved in exam malpractices, it will be an issue. Double standard for one country, foster by the people and admonished by the people. Yet we want to be like america.

Both leaders should face the music. Let clean up start from there not from the bottom.

There is no valid reason why they should not be arraigned for such contemptuous forgery of the hallowed Senate rules, except petty ethnic and political bias.

Justice should take its course.

No offender is above the law.

I hope Bukola Saraki's children are learning from their father's plight, because Bukola never had the chance to be different from his father, Olusola Saraki, who got away with many crimes.

From one court to the other, for one case or the other!
The difference would be number of years, Saraki is in history a Sente President, it better for him to revisit the processes that brought him there.

amaechi1:


Because it is the senate that is why they are least of problem. Catch a thief in the street or a student that gets involved in exam malpractices, it will be an issue. Double standard for one country, foster by the people and admonished by the people. Yet we want to be like america.

Both leaders should face the music. Let clean up start from there not from the bottom.

. Executive nkoo??

Hmm
Why wait for close to 8 f.ucking months to file a case.

Delay is always dangerous, this will only heat up the polity. Time is very crucial in matters of politics.

Is it not obvious the red chambers dont want a change in leadership?

He has been there for 1 year now, heaven did not fall, neither did buhari resign, neither were bills not passed.

Why is the executive interferring?

Even if you organise another election for the position, saraki would still win, now that he has even gathered more clout.

Cant we just face the dwindling economy squarely, that should be top priority.

naijaking1:


Maybe they should debate buhari's certificate first.

This nonsense you shouted on top of your voice before the election that you still lost, is what you're still dying for even after your loss.

This administration has a knack for theatricals. It has just begun another series of drama with the Senate President and his deputy as the lead actors. I pray this one comes to an interesting end.

orisa37:
Gestapo Style Dictatorship is gradually taking over. We warned of this during the Campaign and Elections

of course, a culprit is supposed to go free

PassingShot:
Let them be brought to swift justice for their alleged crime.

... I have finally come to a conclusion that your "zobiesm" is a rare one and it may be a factory-fitted case. Thank you.

fulanimafia:
There is no valid reason why they should not be arraigned for such contemptuous forgery of the hallowed Senate rules, except petty ethnic and political bias.

Justice should take its course.

Let the FG remain in court forever!
He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.

Culprit for what? You are the one harassing everybody as if Nigeria is yours alone. Saraki and Ekweremadu were elected representatives of the People and bear Authority and Responsible to and for the People like the President. A breach of the Constitution by Mr. President tantamounts to a sin more than corruption and looting.