Just In: How Attorney General stalled Saraki’s forgery trial

The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy Ike Ekweremadu, and two others was on Wednesday stalled by the Attorney General of the Federation.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, are facing trial for alleged forgery of the Senate standing rules used to elect them as leaders of the Senate in June last year.

The prosecution counsel Aliyu Umar, who is representing the AGF, Abubakar Malami, said he had not prepared his response to a fresh application challenging the jurisdiction of the court by Saraki’s lawyer.

Umar said, “Just now I became aware of a motion by the first defendant and served on us on September 26. The motion is fundamental because it is asking your lordship to decline jurisdiction and quash the charges. It is a short notice‎.

“I have not filed anything‎. It is fundamental to fair hearing. Under the circumstances, I will ask for an adjournment to enable me to respond to the motion.

“Honestly, I’m not ready for this motion. If it is only just two days, grant us the adjournment to respond to the motion,” he said.

Efeturi’s counsel Mahmud Magaji told the court to dismiss the prosecution’s request as it was duly informed of the applications.

“T‎he act of prosecution is serious business, especially in a criminal charge. The office of the Attorney-General which is the chief prosecuting counsel was served months ago. They had all the opportunities to respond to our applications.

“I urge your lordship not to allow us to descend to the internal working of the prosecution. In view of this, I’m objecting to the application for adjournment.”

Saraki’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, also asked the court to refuse application, describing it as lacking in merit.

“O‎n behalf of the third defendant I submit that the application has no merit. If the Attorney-General has not deemed it fit to pass the entire case file to the counsel, then we should be allowed to move our motion. We are ready to proceed,” said Mr. Erokoro.

The trial judge, Yusuf Haliru, adjourned the matter till October 7.

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