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Nigerian court adjourns forgery case against senate president

Xinhua, July 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Nigerian High Court on Monday adjourned hearing into the case of alleged forgery of the Senate's Standing Rule leveled against the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others.

Justice Haliru Yusuf adjourned hearing in the case to September 28.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, were accused of illegally altering the Senate's Standing Rule used in electing them into office in June 2015.

They were arraigned before Justice Yusuf on June 27, but they pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The court, situated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) granted them bail shortly after, and ordered that they provide sureties with properties in Asokoro, Garki, Wuse and Maitama areas of Abuja.

The trial was to continue on Monday, but the court registrar, Victor Ifeachor, told the court that the case had been adjourned till September 28 following the ongoing vacation of Federal Capital Territory High Court which began on Monday, July 11.

Saraki is also being prosecuted by the government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on 16 counts, including false and anticipatory declaration of asset, which he allegedly made between 2003 and 2011 when he served as the Governor of Kwara State.

He is also accused of operating foreign accounts as a public officer and of receiving governor's salary in addition to his salary as a senator for some periods after completing his two terms as governor and got elected as a senator. Endit