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Nigeran senate president says ready to lose freedom

Xinhua, June 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki on Monday said he was ready to lose his freedom to entrench democracy and stabilize governance in the country.

Saraki stated this in a statement reaching Xinhua in reaction to the trial of the leadership of the Senate, which began on Monday, over alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Standing Orders.

A Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others over the alleged forgery.

He said the trial was an onslaught on the legislature, adding that it posed a great danger to the democracy Nigerians fought hard to win and preserve.

He said the charges against him and the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, were violation of the principle of separation of powers.

Saraki said the senate had worked to foster good relations with the executive branch in the past years, adding that it was in their collective interest to put aside divisions and move on with the nation's business.

He stressed that the leadership risked losing support of the people, who had entrusted it with the responsibility of seeking new and creative ways to promoting a secured and prosperous Nigeria.

According to him, it is time to rise above partisanship and to move forward together. Endit