Senate President, deputy face fresh forgery charges

dimeji akinloye

June 18, 2016 1:05 PM

The two were accused of forging the 2015 Senate Standing Rules used in electing them to office.

The Federal Government has slammed fresh forgery charges on the Senate President,

The immediate past Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy Benedict Efeturi were also charged alongside Saraki and Ekweremadu.

The charges were filed over a year after the controversial election and inauguration of the two principal officers on June 9, 2016.

Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, who is the secretary of Unity Forum, a group of All Progressives Congress Senators opposed to the emergence of Saraki, had petitioned the Inspector General of Police after the election, alleging that the Standing Rules used for the exercise was forged.

He accused the four officials of conspiracy, and demanded criminal investigation of the matter.

A detailed report of the police investigation was later submitted to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

READ: Lawyer says Saraki was rich before becoming Governor

Since the report, the federal government just took steps to press criminal charges against Saraki and the three other officials.

The Senate President is currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false declaration of assets.

dimeji akinloye