FG plans fresh charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu

Senate president, Bukola Saraki and deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu will be suded afresh according to sources

– The federal government is reportedly planning fresh charges against senate president Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu
– The FG is set to sue the two men separately in charges of forgery of rules of the senate
– Attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami said the federal government can do press fresh charges if he wants
The federal government is set to press fresh charges against senate president Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremmadu according to Vanguard. It reports that the FG only withdrew the cases initially in order to allow it file new charges separately and to allow police interrogate suspects and witnesses.

Vanguard claimed that its findings showed that both Saraki and Ekweremadu will now be tried separately. It quoted a top official in the ministry of justice as saying that the senators themselves are yet to be interrogated and that this new idea would solve the slow investigation and prosecution by the Nigeria Police Force.

The unnamed official said: “You can see that under the Criminal Justice Act, the statement of the accused persons and all the witnesses are expected to be filed and it would have been wrong to have pressed ahead with the case when the police are yet to conclude their investigations.
“The federal government considered it appropriate to withdraw the case and conclude the investigation and attach both the statements by the accused and the witnesses before filing fresh charges against the suspects.

“We want to strengthen our position and present a solid case against the suspects as required under the Criminal Justice Administration Act.”
Vanguard says the Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami confirmed that the FG would press fresh charges against the suspects it was good and ready for it.

“I will get back to you on the matter when we are ready,” Malami said.
Earlier, Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice president, had commended the federal government, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari, for the withdrawal of criminal charges against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

The chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) described it as “a wise and timely move”. This latest report of alleged fresh charges would come as a surprise to many people.