The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Forgery of Senate Rules

  • Senate: Forgery investigation concluded before my appointment – AGF

    Senate: Forgery investigation concluded before my appointment – AGF

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, on Wednesday told the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that investigation into the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules was concluded before his appointment as minister.

    Malami appeared before the six –member Senate panel for dragging Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others to court over alleged forgery of the Senate rule.

    The committee is investigating the allegation of “imminent threat to Nigeria’s democracy” leveled against the AGF.

    The members of the committee are -Senator David Umaru (Chairman), James Manager, Joshua Lidani, Babajide Omoworare, Chukwuka Utazi and Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Malami told the committee that he is under obligation to do whatever that can possibly be done to sustain democracy and the course of justice.

    He listed the suits in court on the matter and went further to tell the committee that the police completed investigation into the matter before he was appointed.

    He said, “As at the time I came to office, there existed report of investigation into the matter. At the time I came to office, I had obligation to file action in relation to the investigation. The suit was filed in furtherance of the concluded investigation.”

    The AGF said he had no desire whatsoever to threaten democracy.

    Malami insisted that the Senate lacked power to investigate a case pending in court.

    He reminded the committee that when a case is in court, no arm of government apart from the judiciary should look into it.

     

  • Forgery: Court’s annual vacation stalls Saraki, other’s trial

    Forgery: Court’s annual vacation stalls Saraki, other’s trial

    The scheduled commencement of trial in the forgery case against Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others on Monday has been postponed.

    The postponement was informed by the sudden commencement of the annual long vacation of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Saraki, Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the Senate, Salihu Abubakar Maikasuwa and Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Benedict Efeturi were arraigned on June 27 before Justice Yusuf Haliru, of the High Court of the FCT in Jabi, on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and forgery.

    They were accused among others, of forging the Senate Standing Orders 2015, with which the elections for the offices of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 8th Senate were conducted

    The four defendants, who each, face a maximum of 14 years imprisonment on conviction, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

    The court had, on the last date (June 27), adjourned to July 11 for the commencement of trial.

    When parties got to court on Monday, they were informed that the court’s annual long vacation has commenced earlier than anticipated.

    Court officials told lawyers representing parties that a circular for the annual vacation became public last Friday, but became effective on Monday.

    Parties have agreed to return on September 28.

    The defendants were all in court. While Abubakar entered the courtroom around 8:20am, Saraki, Ekweremadu and Efeturi arrived the court around8:50am.

    Saraki, Ekweremadu and Efeturi rode into the court premises in a long convoy of cars, accompanied by some members of the Senate and their supporters.

  • Alleged forgery: Senate summons AGF again

    Alleged forgery: Senate summons AGF again

    The Senate on Tuesday invited the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami to come and explain why it is necessary for him to drag Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to court over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

    Following a motion by Senator Dino Melaye, (Kogi West) titled: “Imminent threat to our democracy,” the Senate resolved to invite Malami to explain why he allegedly disregarded and reopened the alleged forgery case against Saraki and others when a court of competent jurisdiction had struck it out.

    The Senate said Justice Gabriel Kolawole of Abuja High Court adjudicated and ruled on the matter, affirming that the issue is an internal affair of the Senate.

    Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, in a letter NASSIS/CJHL/024/2016/10 dated 27th June, 2016 and addressed to Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said Malami should appear before it on Thursday to explain his role in Saraki and Ekweremadu’s arraignment.

    The letter was received at the AGF office on Tuesday.

     

  • Forgery: Saraki, Ekweremadu to be arraigned June 27

    Forgery: Saraki, Ekweremadu to be arraigned June 27

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, on Tuesday picked June 27 for the arraignment of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, ‎and other senators for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Rules.

    The defendants will be arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and forgery.

    Justice Yusuf Halilu fixed the date after ordering substituted service of the charges on the defendants.

    The order followed the complaint by the prosecution that several attempts to serve the charges to the defendants had failed.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr. David Kaswe, made the request for substituted service ‎orally on Tuesday.

    He told the judge that the prosecution had deposed to affidavits showing the difficulty of the prosecution to serve the defendants personally.

    Justice Haliru granted the prosecution’s request for substituted service on the defendants on Tuesday and ordered that the charges be pasted on the notice board of the National Assembly.

    He fixed June 27 for arraignment of the defendants.