Forgery charges against senate president Saraki and Ekweremadu withdrawn

Nigerian government has filed a motion to withdraw the charge of criminal conspiracy againstSenate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.An affidavit in support of the motion was filed before the High Court of Federal CapitalTerritory on Thursday by a litigation officer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Odubu Love.Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu, as well as a former Clerk of the National Assembly, SalisuMaikasuwa, and a former Deputy clerk, Ben Efeturi, were first arraigned before Justice YusufHalilu on June 10, 2016, via charge No. CR/219/16.In the motion filed Thursday, Mr. Loveme said counsel to the Federal Government on thematter, Aliyu Umar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on September 30 in the office of the Directorof Public Prosecution told him that he had studied the case diary and “ had decided to amend thecharge in the manner stated on the face of the motion paper”.Mr. Loveme added that he has, consequently, filed an amended charge.“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing same to be correct to the best of myknowledge and information and in accordance with the Oaths Act Cap 01 laws of the Federationof Nigeria,” he said.Based on the amended charge, only Messrs. Maikasuwa and Efeturi would face prosecution.Count 1 of the charge against the two civil servants, is that of Criminal Conspiracy punishableunder section 97 (1) Penal Code Act ( Northern States) Federation Provisions Act, 1960, Cap345, laws of the Federation 1990 as amended.It read that “ Salisu Maikasuwa and Benedict Efeturi, on or about the 9th day of June 2015 at theNational Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourablecourt agreed to do an illegal act, to wit to make the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amendedwithout the authority of the 7th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria which act wascommitted by yourselves and that you thereby committed the offence of criminal conspiracy.”The two officials are accused of fraudulently amending the 2015 Senate Standing Orders withoutthe authority of the 7th Senate “ with the intention that the Senators-elect of the 8th Senate wouldbelieve that the said Senate Standing Orders 2015 ( as amended) was made by the authority ofthe 7th Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria.”They are also accused of forging a document punishable under section 366 of the Penal Code Act( Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, 1960, Cap 345, Laws of the Federation 1990 ( asamended).The Nigerian Government also accused them of giving false information with the intention tomislead the public.The Court had on September 28 adjourned the matter to Friday, October 7 for thecommencement of hearing.Mr. Umar, in his written address in support of the motion to amend the charge on Thursday,stated that the sole issue for determination is “ whether the Court can permit the amendment ofthe charge in terms of the amended charge”.He said the Court has the powers to permit the amendment based on the provisions of Section216 (1) of the Administration o Criminal Justice Act.The Section stated that “ A Court may permit an alteration or an amendment to a charge orframing of a new charge at any time before judgment is pronounced.”He also quoted Section 216 (3) which states that “ Where a Defendant is arraigned for trial on animperfect or erroneous charge ,the Court may permit or direct the framing of a new charge, orany amendment to, or the alteration of the original charge.”