Alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules: FG to reopen investigations.

The Federal Government is to reopen investigations into the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules for which it is currently trying the two presiding officers of the Senate.



The fresh investigation, as requested by the National Prosecution Coordination Committee, NPCC, follows what it claims as an inconclusive investigation, despite sworn affidavit by the prosecution counsel that investigation into the case had been concluded before Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the immediate past Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and his erstwhile deputy, Mr. Ben Efeturi, were charged to court for allegedly forging the standing orders of the Senate.

The assertion of an inconclusive investigation, Vanguard gathered, followed a letter from the NPCC to the Police to make further investigations into the evidences and activities played by some of those charged to court and by those subpoenaed to give evidence on the case.

D.E Kaswe Esq., Principal State Counsel, had in the charge sheet dated June 10, 2016, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which was backed by an Affidavit of Completion of Investigation deposed to at the Federal High Court Registry, Abuja, on the same date by Okara Neji Jonah, a Litigation Officer at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, claimed that the Police had concluded investigation into the matter.

Okara had sworn that “the FCIID (Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department) had concluded investigation of the case and had forwarded the file to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation for Prosecution.”

However, Vanguard gathered that the Police, upon the request of the NPCC, which had taken over the case, is now asking for fresh evidence, an issue that is likely to run into some judicial controversy, given the claim that investigation had been concluded.

A letter from the Special Assistant to the President on (Research and Special Projects) who also serves as Secretary, National Prosecution Coordination Committee, Sylvester Omoregie Imhanobe, said the AGF, after reviewing the case, had decided that the investigation was inconclusive and stressed the need for fresh investigation.