Saraki's Forgery Trial: Kwara ex-governor aides warn against party's polarisation, ask AGF to withdraw case

By Tope Sunday, Ilorin-
The Forum of Former Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants in Kwara State, has warned the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against the polarisation of the party if the prosecution of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, over for alleged forgery of senate standing rules were not stemmed.
To this end, the forum asked the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to withdraw the case against Saraki and other three accused persons in order to maintain the independence of the legislative arm of government.

The Federal Government had dragged Saraki and three others including Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu before an Abuja High Court over alleged conspiracy and forgery of the senate standing rules prior to the inauguration of the current eight National Assembly.

Addressing a press conference in Ilorin on Wednesday, the Chairman of the forum, Mr Akanbi Lamidi, said the trial of the senate president pretended danger to the ‘nation’s hard-won democracy’.

He opined that the trial was premeditated and its continuation would set a bad precedence in the chequered history of the judiciary.

Akanbi explained that it was obvious to the discerning that the travails of Saraki were the handiwork of some political cabal and enemies of the country hell bent on truncating the democratic dispensation.

The former governor’s aide said the actions of those who masterminded the trial constituted executive recklessness and a gross abuse of the collective mandate of Nigerians

Akanbi, who was flanked by his colleagues, likened the trial to multi-coloured political manipulations disguised in the garment of “war against corruption”.

Lamidi urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resist all forms of what he called “nefarious political machinists”.

He also asked the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, to desist from encroaching on the legislative boundaries by immediately withdrawing the forgery suit filed against the presiding officers of the senate and two others.

“The members of this forum condemn in strong term the unwarranted political witch-hunt of the person and office of the Senate President Bukola Saraki. We believe that it is now glaring to all Nigerians home and abroad that the travails of the Senate President are the handiwork of some political cabal and enemies of this country, who are bent on truncating our hard-earned democracy.

“Their actions constitute executive recklessness, and a gross abuse of the collective mandate of Nigerians who voted en masse for “change” in the last general election.

“We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to resist in all forms, these nefarious political machinists and their multi-coloured political manipulations disguised in the garment of “war against corruption”. We should not forget so soon, the unique roles played by Saraki during the last elections in ensuring victory for the All Progressives Congress.

“The Attorney General of the Federation should desist from further encroachment of the legislative boundaries, by withdrawing without delay, the suit filed to embarrass the leadership of the Senate and other parties involved in the suit.
” The principle of separation of power as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is sacrosanct, and the action of the Attorney General is a clear violation of this principle. The continuation of this case will set a very bad judicial precedence.

“The executive arm of government should concentrate on finding lasting solutions to the hydra headed socio-economic and political challenges facing the country at the moment.

“Nigerians voted for change, but this is not the change we voted for. President Buhari is now being perceived in many quarters as being manipulated by some forces within the government. Nigerians are growing impatient, they are eager to see the dividends of democracy on their tables. This is not the Buhari we knew and voted for”, Lamidi said.