Senators urge Buhari to stop Attorney-Gen.
I’m innocent, says Dep. Senate President
Apparently shocked that the stage is set for the trial of its key officials for alleged forgery, the Senate has launched a battle to stave off a major crisis. It yesterday accused the Executive of attempting to force out its leaders and named Attorney General Abubakar Malami leader of the plot. President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate said, should tell Malami to pull the brakes on the plot.
In a statement, Media and Public Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Sabi Abdullahi said the reopening of the case by the police posed a danger to the autonomy of the legislature. Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy have been charged with alleged forgery of the Senate Rules to pave the way for their 2015 election. They both deny any wrong doing.
To the Senate, charging the officials is “unconstitutional” because the matter has been dealt with at plenary. The statement reads: “After reading in the national newspapers and online platforms of the planned charges of forgery and conspiracy preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, immediate past Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Ben Efeturi and reviewing the circumstances leading to the filing of these charges, we are compelled to alert the good people of Nigeria and the international community, that our democracy is in danger and that the attempt by the Executive Arm of the Federal Government to muzzle the legislature and criminalise legislative processes in order to cause leadership change in the National Assembly is a return to the era of impunity and lack of respect for due process which we all fought to abolish.
