Why forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu were withdrawn – FG

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charges were being withdrawn because of a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.