Nigerian Senate President And His Deputy Arraigned In Court, Granted Bail

The Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others were this morning arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Alongside the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, the Senate leaders were charged with alleged complicity in the forgery of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 2015.

The two count charge brought against the four by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice were as follows:

“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 four accused pleaded not guilty following which their counsels made bail applications. The Federal Government through the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Diri, was however opposed to the requests for bail for Ekweremadu, Maikasuwa and Efeturi. It however suggested that bail be granted to only Saraki so there would be no vacuum in the Senate.

Diri rested his opposition to bail for the defendants on the argument that they evaded service of the charges on them and that it was only after the court granted the prosecution substituted service that the accused saw reason to come to court. He argued that if granted bail, they “may not be seen again for trial.”

At the end of the arguments however, the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu granted conditional bail to the defendants on the grounds that they had not been proved guilty. The judge asked each of four principal officers of the Senate to provide “two reasonable sureties” who must be Nigerians and who must own property in Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse II and Garki areas of Abuja. If they failed to do that, they would be remanded in Kuje prison. Justice Halilu adjourned the case to July 11.