Ahead of the Federal Government’s forgery suit against Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, outgoing clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Mr. Ben Efeturi, slated for today at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, over 14 witnesses have been lined up to give evidence on the alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Order.
A statement by the Principal State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice, D. E. Kaswe, alleged that Senators Saraki, Ekweremadu, Maikasuwa and Efeturi, were on or about June 9, 2015, with fraudulent intent, forged the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended), causing it to be believed as the genuine Standing Orders 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the 8th Senate when they knew that the said order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate orders.
According to the statement, the four-some, thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code laws.
The list of witnesses lined up to testify against the four persons include both serving and former senators who were in the 7th Senate. They are the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; Senators Sulaiman Hunkuyi; Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central); Senator Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North); Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice (APC, Ondo North) and Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South).
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Others are Senator Solomon Ewuga, Senator Ojudu Babafemi, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dan’Azumi J. Doma and a police investigator, David Igbodo.
It was gathered that at the trial of the above named defendants, the prosecution intends to rely on the testimony of the following witness.
In a document recieved, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, APC, Kaduna North and a serving Senator would testify as to how the Senate Standing Order 2015 was forged.
According to the document, “Senator Ita Enang was a senator that represented Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District, in the 7th National Assembly. he was also the Chairman of the rules and Business Committee of the 7th Senate. He will also inform the court the procedure for amendment of Senate standing Order.
“Senator Solomon Ewuga was a member of the 7th National assembly. He will inform the court that the Senate Standing Order, 2011, was never amended, he may also be required to tender some exhibits. Senator Ahmed Lawan is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and was also a member of the 7th National Assembly He will inform the court that the senate standing Order 2011 was never amended. Senator Abdullahi A. Gumel is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He will inform the court that he was given the Senate Standing Order 2011 during the induction course of the 8th National Assembly.”
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