Senate Forgery Case: Police May Arrest Ekweremadu, Others This Week

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu

 

A political storm is about to take over the Senate as the police prepares to arrest some principal officers of the National Assembly, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator lke Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the rules of the Senate in 2015.

 

According to a Punch report, the senators might be arrested for snubbing a police invitation to answer questions on their roles in the alleged forgery of the rules of the Senate in 2015. But, some have raised suspicion on the matter alleging that the Federal Government is using its power to bully the Senate, this is so because the case in question is already in court. 

 

The report revealed that the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Garki Abuja, which is investigating the alleged forgery, was waiting for the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to approve the arrest of the principal officers. If the approval comes this week, Ekweremadu and some principal officers of the Senate will be arrested this week.

 

In July 2015, the police had invited some principal officers of the Senate over the alleged forgery of rules used for the election of Saraki, his deputy and the inauguration of the 8th Senate.

 

The police, in another letter dated June 7, 2016 and signed by Assistant Inspector General of Police, James Caulcrick, had requested the officials of the 7th Senate to report to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Garki, Abuja, for the purpose of conducting further investigations on the fraudulent use of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) by the Senate.

 

In the letter, Caulcrick noted that none of the officials on the 7th Senate list had honoured an earlier invitation to respond to the allegations against them, except the Clerk of the National Assembly and that of the Senate.

 

A police source revealed that the police is planning a “lawful force to compel obedience and cooperation” from the suspects.

 

He stated, “Since the suit has been filed, we will arrest the men if they fail to honour our invitation. We are only waiting for the go-ahead from the IGP. We are hoping to pick them up this week or before the hearing of the suit begins.”

 

Following a directive by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the IGP the police had submitted the final report of their investigation to the Ministry of Justice for the prosecution of the affected officers.

 

The Federal Government, this week, filed forgery suit against Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and some principal officers of the Senate at a Federal High Court, Abuja.