Criminal charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu to be withdrawn
https://infoniger.blogspot.com/2016/10/criminal-charges-against-saraki.html
– The federal government is to withdraw criminal charges against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu
– The two officials have been accused of corruption, criminal conspiracy, alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules among others
– The case which has been on since June 2015 was adjourned to October 7, when hearing is expected to commence
The federal government has filed a petition to withdraw the charge of criminal conspiracy against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu.
An affidavit has been filed before the High Court of federal capital territory by Odubu Loveme, the litigation officer from the federal ministry of justice on Thursday.
Senate president, Bukola Saraki and deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu
An amended charge now include the names of Salisu Maikasuwa, the former clerk of the National Assembly, and Ben Efeturi, a former deputy clerk.
Both were arraigned alongside Saraki and Ekweremadu on June 10, 2016. The four pleaded not guilty on July 27, 2016.
The amended charge reads in part: “Salisu Maikasuwa and Benedict Efeturi, on or about the 9th day of June 2015 at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court agreed to do an illegal act, to wit to make the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended without the authority of the 7th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria which act was committed by yourselves and that you thereby committed the offence of criminal conspiracy.”
Messrs Maikasuwa and Efeturi are accused of:
– Fraudulently amending the 2015 Senate standing orders without the authority of the 7th Senate. (with intention that the senators elect of the 8th Senate would believe that the said senate standing orders 2015 (as amended) was made by the authority of the 7th Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria.)
– Forging a document and giving false information with the intention to mislead the public
The court had on September 28 adjourned the matter to Friday, October 7, for commencement of hearing.
– The two officials have been accused of corruption, criminal conspiracy, alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules among others
– The case which has been on since June 2015 was adjourned to October 7, when hearing is expected to commence
The federal government has filed a petition to withdraw the charge of criminal conspiracy against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu.
An affidavit has been filed before the High Court of federal capital territory by Odubu Loveme, the litigation officer from the federal ministry of justice on Thursday.
Senate president, Bukola Saraki and deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu
An amended charge now include the names of Salisu Maikasuwa, the former clerk of the National Assembly, and Ben Efeturi, a former deputy clerk.
Both were arraigned alongside Saraki and Ekweremadu on June 10, 2016. The four pleaded not guilty on July 27, 2016.
The amended charge reads in part: “Salisu Maikasuwa and Benedict Efeturi, on or about the 9th day of June 2015 at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court agreed to do an illegal act, to wit to make the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended without the authority of the 7th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria which act was committed by yourselves and that you thereby committed the offence of criminal conspiracy.”
Messrs Maikasuwa and Efeturi are accused of:
– Fraudulently amending the 2015 Senate standing orders without the authority of the 7th Senate. (with intention that the senators elect of the 8th Senate would believe that the said senate standing orders 2015 (as amended) was made by the authority of the 7th Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria.)
– Forging a document and giving false information with the intention to mislead the public
The court had on September 28 adjourned the matter to Friday, October 7, for commencement of hearing.
