Investigation! Senate rules were forged for Saraki, Ekweremadu’s elections
– The standing orders of Nigerian Senate for the 2015 elections of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu were different the 2011 version
– The amendment was done “by convention and practice” and not by “procedure”, according to the deputy clerk of the National Assembly
– However, neither Bukola Saraki nor Ike Ekweremadu were mentioned or indicted in the police report
Premium Times has published the excerpts from the police report showing that the standing orders used for the 2015 elections of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as senate president and deputy respectively, were different from its 2011 version.
The information was provided to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigerian Police, by Benedict Efeturi, the deputy clerk of the National Assembly.
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According to Mr. Efeturi, the rules were forged to help Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu to gain their posts. The amendment was reportedly directed by the former senate leadership, while lawmakers were not informed about the changes.
In his statement to the police, Mr. Efeturi said the leadership of the seventh Senate under Mr. Mark ordered the 2015 Standing Rules be amended “not necessarily by procedure” but “by convention and practice”.
The police report reads in part: “He stated that the leadership of the National Assembly of the 7th Senate ordered the 2015 Standing Rules as amended by their convention and practice. (He stated) that the Senate Standing Orders 2003, 2007 and 2011 followed the same procedure as that of 2015. He emphasized that in the Parliament, amendment of the Standing Orders is by practice not necessarily by procedure.
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He further stated that during the ruling of the Senate President on the 24th of June 2015, that the Senate Standing Orders of the Senate 2015 is authentic, final, relevant and cannot be challenged. He attached a copy of the debates of the Senate on Wednesday, the 24th of June where the Senate President ruled (that) the Senate Standing Order 2015 as authentic Standing Orders of the 8th Senate.”
Fraudulent amendment
Mr. Maikasuwa, who conducted the elections of Messrs Saraki and Ekweremadu, said he did not refer to any Senate Standing Rules, as well as he is not aware of of the existence or production of an amended Senate Standing Rules 2015.
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A number of senators invited during the investigation said the seventh Senate did not amend the 2011 Standing Rules and thus, the amendment rules used for inauguration of the eighth assembly was fraudulent.
Saraki, Ekweremadu were not mentioned or indicted
Surprisingly, there was no complaint or idictment of Mr. Saraki and Mr. Ekweremadu, who was deputy senate president the time, in the report. The criminal charges came about a year after the report was submitted to the federal fovernment.
More details at Premium Times.
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