Court Adjourns Saraki, Ekweremadu’s Forgery Suit To June 27

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

 A Federal High Court, sitting at the Federal Capital Territory, today, Tuesday, June, 21, 2016, deferred the arraignment of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery, till June 27.

Dr. Saraki and Mr. Ekweremadu and two other defendants were accused of complicity in alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

The two-count charge which was okayed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, 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.”

The Court also ordered substituted service of the charge on Dr. Saraki and Mr. Ekweremadu by pasting it at the notice board of the National Assembly.

The order followed an oral application by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. David Kaswe, who prayed the court that effecting personal service of the charge on the defendants proved “very difficult”.

Kaswe maintained that the prosecution had also deposed an affidavit to show efforts it made to furnish the defendants with copies of the charge against them, therefor urging the court to invoke sections 123 and 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and okay that the charge be served on the defendants by substituted means.

Meanwhile, Justice Halilu in his ruling, acceded to the request, though he noted that the prosecution ought to have supported the application with a motion ex-parte.

However, the Judge said he was minded to grant the oral request for substituted service considering the need for the defendants to be aware of the criminal charge pending against them.

The case was subsequently adjourned till next week Monday, June, 27, 2016 for arraignment of the defendants.