Alleged Forgery: Saraki, Ekweremadu to be arraigned today

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others, accused of forgery, will appear before Justice Yusuf Haliru of the Federal Capital Territory High Court today.

Mr. Saraki, Mr. Ekweremadu, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, are accused of illegally altering the Senate’s Standing Rule used in electing leaders and inaugurating the upper legislative chamber on June 9, 2015.

The accused were initially scheduled for arraignment on June 21, but that was moved forward following the inability of the prosecution, the Attorney-General of the Federation, to serve notices of summons on the defendants individually.

Subsequently Mr. Haliru asked the prosecution to make the serve the surmons on the defendants through substituted means, by pasting it on the notice board of the National Assembly.

That evening, the prosecution acted as directed by the court.

But Mr. Saraki objected to the substituted means of service by the prosecution, and is demanding that the charges against him be dropped in its entirety.

Mr. Saraki’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, who filed the motion said his client was already facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and that the recent charge would prevent him (Mr. Saraki) the right to prepare adequately for his defence at the Tribunal.

The All Progressives Congress, the political party to which Mr. Saraki belongs, said it would investigate the forgery allegation against Mr. Saraki and the other suspects.