Forgery!Sen Saraki and Ekeremadu granted bail

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, has granted bail to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two other accused persons — Salisu Maikasuwa, former clerk of the national assembly, and Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the legislature. Saraki, Ekweremadu and others were docked before Justice Yusuf Haliru over their alleged complicity in forgery of the Senate Standing Rules, 2015. They pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against them by the federal government. Shortly after the defendants entered their plea to the charge marked CR/219/16, the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, notified the court of FG’s counter-affidavit opposing release of the accused persons on bail. Diri told the court that the counter-affidavit which was filed Monday morning, was still pending before the court’s registry. He therefore persuaded trial Justice Yusuf Halilu to stand-down the matter for an hour to enable the registry to transmit the process to the court for hearing. ‎The judge adjourned to July 11 for trial.