Ekweremadu’s fate unknown as Police confirm forgery

The Police seem to have concluded their investigations into allegations that the Senate Standing Order used for the election of the Senate President, Bukalo Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu were forged, and have established the claim as being true.

According to reports, there were indications that the police might charge the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa to court for the alleged forgery of the Standing Orders.

A source revealed that the Police report which had been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari, confirmed that the Standing Rules used to inaugurate the 8th Assembly were forged.

In the report, the Police recommended the prosecution of those found culpable of forging the orders, which had been used in the controversial election on June 9, 2015.

The report was said to have indicted the management of the National Assembly, especially Maikasuwa and recommended the prosecution of the suspects.

But the fate of Ekweremadu who was one of those quizzed by the Police in the course of their investigation into the matter was unknown last night.

Police sources declined to discuss his fate, but noted that the case file has been sent to the Federal Ministry of Justice for advice and prosecution.

Acting on a petition by Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi (All Progressives Congress, Kaduna State), the Police had on July 6 quizzed Ekweremadu and Maikasuwa over an alleged forgery of the standing orders.

The Police, also quizzed the leadership of the 7th Senate, including former Senate President, Senator David Mark; his deputy (now Saraki’s deputy), Ike Ekweremadu; former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Maikasuwa, who is the custodian of the Senate Standing Order was also invited for questioning by the police.

According to findings, the Police team, led by Deputy Inspector-General Danazumi Job Doma, discovered many anomalies in the said Senate Standing Orders.

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The Police findings include the followings:

*The Senate Standing Orders 2007(as amended) was still in force when the 7th Senate wound up.

*There was no time the 7th Senate amended the Standing Orders or any subsisting motion as shown in the Senate Standing Orders 2015

* The Senate Standing Orders 2015 was strange and a violation of Paragraph 110 of the Senate Standing Orders 2007(as amended)

*All the principal officers of the 7th Senate interviewed admitted that the Senate Standing Orders 2007 (as amended) was not reviewed before their tenure ended.

* A clear case of forgery, manipulation, and tampering has been established.

* Those connected with the forgery should be immediately prosecuted.

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