Saraki, Ekweremadu Not Free; FG to file fresh charges against them individually

...initial case withdrawn to enable police question suspects, witnesses
In what appears as pyrrhic victory for Senate President Bukola Saraki and deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, the forgery case against them, which Federal Government withdrew last week, is to be filed afresh.

However, according to Vanguard's findings, government will charge the Senate leaders individually as opposed to the previous one where they were jointly docked.


A top Justice Ministry official revealed last night that

the case was primarily withdrawn because the Nigeria Police Force, handling the case, was yet to conclude [part of] its investigation.

In fact the source said Police is yet to interrogate Saraki and Ekweremadu and other officials of the National Assembly said to have masterminded the forgery of the Senate Rules used in conducting the inauguration of the 8th NASS.

“You can see that under the Criminal Justice Act, the statement of the accused persons and all the witnesses are expected to be filed and it would have been wrong to have pressed ahead with the case when the police are yet to conclude their investigations,” the MoJ official pointed out.

“The federal government considered it appropriate to withdraw the case and conclude the investigation and attach both the statements by the accused and the witnesses before filing fresh charges against the suspects.

“We want to strengthen our position and present a solid case against the suspects as required under the Criminal Justice Administration Act,” the official told Vanguard.

When contacted, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, confirmed that a fresh charge would be pressed against the suspects when the government was ready.

“I will get back to you on the matter when we are ready,” Malami said.

The fresh determination by the government to file charges against the Senate gladiators, appears to have short lived their celebration of the initial abrogation of the charges filed against them.