An Abuja federal high court
earlier today remanded senate president Bukola Saraki and deputy senate
president Ike Ekweremadu in prison for alleged forgery of senate standing rule
which brought both Saraki and Ekweremadu in as Presdient and deputy of the 8th
Assembly. Both were remanded in prison alongside two others defendants accused
of forging the senate rule today 27th June 2016.
Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu together with
ex clerk of the National Assembly Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy Benedict
Efeturi were arraigned by the Federal
government for illegally altering the
senate standing rules used in electing Saraki and Ekweremadu as President and
deputy senate president respectively in
June 2015 at the inauguration of the 8th assembly.
Justice Yusuf Haliru in his ruling
however granted them bail after their arraignment after the Judge had initially
ruled that they should all be detained at the Kuje Maximum prison in Abuja
pening when they meet their bail conditions of providing two sureties each with
evidence of properties in Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama or Garki areas of Abuja. As at
the time of filling the reports it is however not clear whether they will be
able to meet the bail conditions before leaving the court premises or to be
transferred to Kuje prison.
The four accused persons separately
filled for bail applications immediately after Justice Yusuf of the FCT High
Court in Abuja asked the prosecutors to issue a notice of summons for the case
to the defendants to avoid detention shortly after the hearing.
The case was stood down for one
hour after the director of public prosecution office of the Attorney General of
the federation asked for time to allow him file a counter affidavit to prevent
a bail application for the defendants. The Director of Public Prosecion DPP Mr. Mohammed Diri had earlier pleaded he
Court not to grant bail to Ekweremadu and the other two defendants saying
Saraki has to be granted bail to allow him preside over the Senate but the
court refused his plea and granted all four conditional bail.
The trial Judge consequently adjourned
the case to July 11 2016
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