Court Orders Saraki, Ekweremadu, Others to Be Detained at Kuje Prison

By Ibraheem Alli, Abuja

Nigeria Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others who were accused of forging the Senate Standing Rules have been ordered to be detained at Kuje Prison.

Justice Haliru Yusuf of an Abuja High court where Saraki and others were arraigned said that they should be detained at the Kuje Maximum Prison in Abuja pending the time they are able to perfect their bail conditions.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, entered a not guilty plea to the two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery leveled against them.

The suspects are accused of illegally altering the Senate’s Standing Rule used in electing Saraki and Ekweremadu and inaugurating the upper legislative chamber on June 9, 2015.

Justice Yusuf granted bail to the accused with the provision of two sureties each with evidence of properties in Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama and Garki areas of Abuja.

Saraki’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, later told journalists that his client had met the bail condition and was proceeding home.

All four defendants were later seen leaving the court premises the way they came.

The trial began on Monday June 27, after Justice Yusuf asked the prosecution to issue notice of summons for the matter to the defendants by pasting it on the notice board of the National Assembly on June 21.

The four accused persons immediately filed bail applications separately to prevent a possible detention after the hearing.