Nigeria: Forgery charges against senate chief dropped

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) – The Nigerian government withdrew charges of forgery against the country's senate president on Friday.

Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu had been arraigned for allegedly illegally changing the rules leading to his election as senate president in June 2015.

Government lawyer Aliyu Umar confirmed the charges had been withdrawn.

“We accordingly urge your lordship to strike out the charges and discharge all the defendants,” he said.

The court in turn struck out the case, almost certainly turning the page on one of the most high-profile corruption cases filed by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Charges against former parliament clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy Benedict Efeturi were also dropped.

The decision to withdraw the case, according to the sources at the Federal Justice Ministry who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, was made at a meeting of a high-powered committee advising the president on his anti-corruption crusade.

The corruption cases against top lawmakers, including the ongoing false assets declaration suit against Saraki, have pitted the legislature against the executive in the past several months.

Charges against former parliament clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy Benedict Efeturi were also dropped.