Saraki, Ekweremadu arraigned for forgery, granted bail

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, were on Monday arraigned before an Abuja High Court for alleged complicity in forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, 2015.

They were arraigned alongside former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

Saraki, Ekweremadu and the two other accused persons  pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against them by the federal government.

Following their not guilty plea, they were all granted bail and the case was adjourned till July 11.

Nigerian Senate president Bukola Saraki on Monday kicked off his corruption trial by denying he falsified parliamentary rules to get elected.

The influential Nigerian politician has been charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy and forgery and was in the dock alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, at the high court in Abuja.

The clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efturi, are also facing the same charges.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants “with fraudulent intent forged” parliamentary documents and used them to get Saraki and Ekweremadu elected in June last year.

Conviction carries a maximum 14-year jail sentence.

Judge Yusuf Halilu granted all four men bail and adjourned the case until July 11.

Saraki, from Buhari’s governing All Progressives Congress, became president of Nigeria’s upper chamber of parliament unopposed after securing backing of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been at loggerheads with Mr Saraki as his party did not want him as senate leader.

Mr Buhari’s preferred candidate was not present when the senate elected its president last year.

Mr Saraki’s opponents say that that election was not valid and was conducted under rules which they allege were forged.

The case could have widespread political ramifications, correspondents say.

The accused arrived at court in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in bus accompanied by senate colleagues, the BBC’s Chris Ewokor reports.

But he was not the APC’s first choice, which led some to claim the charges against him are politically motivated.

Saraki is also facing charges of failing to disclose assets in a separate case relating to his time as a state governor from 2003 to 2011. He has denied wrong-doing.

There were reports of a mild drama, which played out at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Jabi venue of the high-profile case.

The reports indicated that  some loyalists of those standing trial attempted to prevent reporters from taking photographs of the accused persons.

The supporters used sheets of newspapers to block the front of the pressmen's camera in an attempt to stop them from taking photographs of the accused.

This led to a heated argument between the reporters and the alleged loyalists.

AFP/ BBC