‘I, Saraki being tried due to our emergence as Senate leaders,’ Senator says

monjola sotubo

August 1, 2016 12:40 PM

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said that he is being tried for forgery due to his occupancy of the office.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 27, 2016,

Ekweremadu and Senate President, Bukola Saraki have been accused of forging the 2015 Senate Standing Rules.

The deputy senate president made his comments on Sunday, July 31, 2016, via a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu.

The statement reads:

I am indeed humbled by your solidarity. As they say, the true test of a man is not where he stands in the time of comfort; it is where he stands when there is crisis.

Many people may not take this step of faith because of the situation we found ourselves in the country; some may be afraid of their liberty and afraid of any reprisals.

But you have stepped out to come and show solidarity and ask questions in a matter concerning one of your sons. Let me start by saying that I reinstate my innocence; that I committed no offence or forged any documents; and none of the accused persons to the best of my knowledge committed any offence, let alone forging any document.

Let me also say that no senator accused me, President of the Senate or the other people of committing any offence. No senator or bureaucrat accused us of forging any document. Again, as a lawyer, I know what is called Proof of Evidence, that is the statement of witnesses who are going to confront you with the offence for which you are being charged.

ALSO READ: Nobody can remove me - Ekweremadu

I was served, and I have read this document (court process) from the first page to the last page; no witness said any of us committed any offence. Our only offence is that Senator Bukola Saraki and myself emerged as President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate. Some people found it unacceptable, and that is why we are being charged, not that we committed any offence.

monjola sotubo