All Set for Saraki, Ekweremadu Arraignment for Forgery

By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

All is set for the arraignment of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules before Justice Yusuf Haliru of an Abuja High Court.

While the Senate leadership described the charges as a breach of the principle of separation ‎of powers and an attempt by the executive to sack the Senate leaders through the backdoor, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, said he acted within the law.

Charged along with Saraki and Ekweremadu are Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and Benedict Efeturi,

The 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.”

They were also accused of fraudulently forging 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 they knew that the said Order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order.

Further details later