Alleged forgery: Accusers desperate to nail Saraki, Ekweremadu – Melaye

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, on Monday accused the prosecution of making moves to include the names of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, in the police report on alleged forgery of Senate rules.

Saraki; Ekweremadu; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa; and Clerk of the Senate, Ben Efeturi, were arraigned on June 27, 2016 before an FCT High Court for alleged forgery of Senate rules.

However, Melaye said in a statement in Abuja that he had been “reliably informed” that the prosecution was trying to doctor the report of the police investigation into the matter.

Melaye is a staunch Saraki ally and has vowed to stand by the Senate president till the end of his travails.

Saraki had last year been arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false assets declaration.

In his statement, Melaye said, “We have our own sources and we have been reliably informed that the prosecution having realized that there is a big hole in their case against Saraki and Ekweremadu who were not mentioned in the police report, are now trying to doctor the report and include the names of both presiding officers of the Senate. We are aware of that development and we want members of the public to know the level of desperation that these people are ready to go to nail the Senate President and his deputy.

“It is because of this plan that they refused to include the police report in the process they filed in court. We have said it repeatedly that the government and specifically, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malawi, has no case against our presiding officers. They filed the case to distract the two men, embarrass them, force a change of leadership and eventually cow the Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general.

“The forgery case is the height of desperation by some elements to bring down the legislature. Malami has a personal agenda to achieve an objective for which he has been hired as a counsel by a few aggrieved Senators. Now, a court has affirmed our claim that he is abusing his office and that there is a conflict of interest involving him.

“The said police report is already in the public space. The media has published it verbatim. We will be watching them to see how they will smuggle Saraki and Ekweremadu’s names into it. This is the height of desperation and we will continue to monitor developments on it. It is clear those who initiated this forgery suit against the leadership of the Senate know that they have made a mistake. They should cut their losses and discontinue the error.

“To think that they will now use forgery to justify a false case of forgery, further their abuse of the court process as well as abuse of office and think we will be looking at them will not be possible. We will call on the courts to continue to play their role as the last resort for every man who wants justice at all times and in all circumstances.”