The Federal Government on Friday withdrew the forgery
charges it instituted against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki,
his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), told the
trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Jabi Division of the High Court
of the Federal Capital Territory, that the charges were being withdrawn
because of a pending case related to the charges before the Federal
High Court in Abuja.
He said, “This government respects the rule of law, and
hierarchy of the judiciary. It is obvious from these two applications
(filed by Saraki and Ekweremadu) and the similar case before your
learned brother, Justice Kolawole, at the Federal High Court who is
dealing with the issue that we are withdrawing the charges.
“It is trite that two matters of the same subject matter cannot be before different courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“Therefore, the amended charge dated October 5, 2016 and also the
original dated June 10, 2016 and filed the same date be struck out and
all the four defendants be discharged.”
The case before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High
Court in Abuja which was referred to by the prosecutor was a civil case
filed by a serving Senator, Gilbert Nnaji, to challenge the then
ongoing investigation into the alleged forgery of the Senate rule by
Saraki and others.
The application by Umar for the withdrawal of the charges
was not opposed by the defence lawyers comprising, Messrs Ikechukwu
Ezechukwu (SAN), Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Joseph
Daudu (SAN).
Justice Halilu subsequently struck out the case and discharged all the four accused.
Source:Punch
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