‘•APC’ll investigate’

From Godwin Tsa, Romanus Ugwu and Fred Itua, Abuja

Barring any last minute change, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, would be arraigned today before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, on a two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and forgery.

Also named in the suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, are a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efeture.

Sources from the Federal Ministry of Justice confirmed on the telephone yesterday that Saraki and his co-accused would appear before Justice Yusuf Halilu, for arraignment.

But at 7pm yesterday, both Saraki and Ekweramadu said they were yet to receive any summon or official invitation to appear in court.

“None yet. We have not received any letter for now,” said spokesman of the Senate President, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu.

Similarly, media aide to Ekweremadu, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, said: “We have not received anything like that. But if we get something before the end of the day, I will let you know.”

The Federal Government alleged that Saraki, Ekweremadu and others doctored the Senate Standing Order 2015 and used same during the inauguration of the Eighth Senate, an offence said to be punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act.

However, the chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the suit was not only an undue and unnecessary interference in the internal affairs of the Senate, but also a blatant abuse of the judicial process as well as a grand design by the executive and some leadership of the All progressives Congress (APC) to muzzle the legislature and criminalise legislative process “in order to cause leadership change in the National Assembly.”

According to Abdullah: “The Rules of the Senate and how the institution elects its leadership are internal affairs. The Rules of a new Senate are provided by the National Assembly bureaucracy. It has always been so since 1999. After the inauguration of the Senate, if senators have objections to any part of the rules, they can follow the procedure for changing it.”

However, the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party would investigate, adding that the allegation of forgery should also be considered very important.

“At this stage, l don’t think there is anything to say. In fact, everything is still a guess work. Nobody has said yes or have they been arrested or asked to make statement or whatever. As a party we do not think it is part of our business to interfere in judicial matters of that nature. We will just wait and see as we are even making investigation to be sure that is the situation.”

On the insinuation that people are basing the allegation on the relationship of the party, the presidency with the Senate, Oyegun said: “No, no, no. Did what they claim happen, actually happened? That is what you should look at. Take the two copies (the new copy and the old copy) of the Senate rules and see if there is a difference. If there is a difference, at what formal meeting was it approved and adopted? You should start from this so that when you are commenting it would not be sensation, it would be based on fact and reality.

“We have to change the way we do things in this country; we have to start telling people what is right and what is wrong and to choose what is right as against what is wrong. This is where l expect you to start. Don’t start making it party verses ‘x’-issue. The point would be: was an offence committed? We must establish that first before you can now move on,” he stated.

While saying he was not scared of the fresh suit, Ekweremadu noted it was a fresh attempt to witch-hunt him.

  The issue began last year after Saraki emerged as Senate President against the wishes of his party, which had zoned the office to the North-East

Dissatisfied, some senators under the aegis of the Unity Forum approached Abuja Federal High Court, seeking the nullification of the election on claims that the Senate Standing Rules were forged.

Meanwhile, Saraki will also appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for his ongoing trial for alleged false and anticipatory asset declaration.

Both the FCT High Court and the CCT share a boundary in Jabi area of Abuja.

The CCT had on June 15 adjourned the trial for the hearing of a fresh motion filed by Saraki seeking an order to disqualify the Chairman, Danladi Umar, from further presiding over the case.

Saraki filed his fresh application accusing Umar of bias based on the remark made by the tribunal chairman at the last proceedings on June 7, 2016, while warning the defence against delay tactics.

Umar made the statement that was picked up while warning the defence that their delay tactics would not “reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial”.

Saraki, alleged that Umar’s statement would prejudice the outcome of the trial.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government before the CCT on a 16-counts, including false and anticipatory asset declaration, which he allegedly made between 2003 and 2011 when he served as the Governor of Kwara State.

He is also accused of operating foreign accounts as a public officer and of receiving governor’s salary or emoluments in addition to his salary as a senator for some periods after completing his two terms as governor and got elected as a senator.