BUHARI SETS SARAKI FREE

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Friday, explained how the case of forgery against them, was dropped by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, maintaining that it was a “politically-induced distraction”.
They explained that the case came at a time, when all hands must be on deck to solve the problem of economic recession biting the people, destroying homes, and creating severe social disorientation in communities.
Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former Deputy Clerk, Ben Efeturi, were all discharged, following the withdrawal of the criminal charge against them by the Federal Government.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the presiding officers of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, said the court’s decision was consistent with their position that the case lacked any merit, and that the charge of forgery of the Senate Rule filed against them, can never be substantiated by any fact.
They described the verdict of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as a welcome development, and a vindication of their position from the beginning of the case, that they are innocent of the accusations leveled against them.

“We express appreciation to all our colleagues in the Senate, for their solid support and understanding while the case lasted. We also thank other parliamentarians in and out of the country, and the international community as a whole, for the consistent solidarity they displayed to us, and their belief in our genuine cause, since the commencement of the case.
“Our gratitude goes to our legal team, family members, friends, supporters, civil society organisations, members of the bar, the media, and the generality of the people, many of who came out to add their voice to the fact that, what the nation needs at this period of economic crisis, is not a distraction or any show of division, but a clear signal that all arms of government are ready to co-operate with one another, to find solutions to the nation’s economic recession.
“We believe much time has been wasted in pursuing this needless case, and we hope that the same treatment will be extended to other politically-motivated cases. It is also hoped that from now on, the various arms of government, will be allowed to devote all the available time and resources to working on the problems confronting the country, and finding solutions that will lead to higher standards of living for the majority of the people of Nigeria.
“At this point, what the country needs, is a strong economy where a very large percentage of those who are willing to work can be productively engaged; where there is solid infrastructure, where the atmosphere brings the best out of the people, and where all are able to realise their full potential. We pledge to work for Nigeria to achieve all these”, Saraki and Ekweremadu stated.