The forgery of the Senate Standing suit filed by the Federal Government may earn the accused, Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and others involved a 16-year jail term if guilty as charged, as the offence of conspiracy is punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Act; while that offence of forgery with “fraudulent intent” is punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
Barring last minutes change, Saraki and Ekweremadu will today, Tuesday appear before an Abuja High Court, Jabi on charges of forgery.
Saraki is also expected to be at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which shares boundary with the Jabi Abuja High Court for his ongoing trial for alleged false and anticipatory asset declaration same Tuesday as the CCT had on June 15 adjourned the trial of the Senate President, till June 21.
According to the provisions of the penal code laws (Sections 97(1) on criminal conspiracy and 364 (on forgery), upon which the case is to be prosecuted, anybody convicted of the crimes is to bag two and 14- year jail term respectively for the offences.
It was reliably gathered from sources in Federal Ministry of Justice, according to Ripples Nigeria that Justice Yusuf Halilu will tomorrow seat on the case involving Saraki alongside Ekweremadu and others accused along with them on two counts of forgery and criminal conspiracy.
A former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasu, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, along with Saraki and Ekweremadu were on June 10, charged with criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Standing Rules used for the leadership election of the presiding officers of the Senate in June last year.
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