In what spells good days for the relationship between the Executive
and Legislative arms of Government, the Federal Government has filed a
motion to drop the charge of criminal conspiracy and forgery of senate
standing order against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy,
Ike Ekweremadu.
This was applied for by a litigation officer from the Federal
Ministry of Justice, Odubu Loveme, who filed an affidavit in support of
the motion before the High Court of Federal Capital Territory.
THE WILL recalls that Saraki, Ekweremadu, as well as a former Clerk
of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former Deputy clerk,
Ben Efeturi, were on June 20th arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu, on
charges of forgery of the senate standing order during the senate
leadership election held in June last year and all pleaded not guilty on
July 27, 2016.
In the motion filed by Loveme in the office of the Director of Public
Prosecution, he revealed that the prosecution had studied the case
diary and had decided to amend the charge in the manner stated on the
face of the motion paper while Maikasuwa and Efeturi would continue to
face trial over the case.
“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing same to be
correct to the best of my knowledge and information and in accordance
with the Oaths Act Cap 01 laws of the Federation of Nigeria,” he
affirmed.
Count 1 of the charge against the two civil servants, is that of
Criminal Conspiracy punishable under section 97 (1) Penal Code Act (
Northern States) Federation Provisions Act, 1960, Cap 345, laws of the
Federation 1990 as amended.
