SARAKI/EKWEREMADU CASE: THIS IS NOT A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MATTER
Since the arraignment of Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu before the Federal High Court on Monday, June 27, 2016, both men have issued two separate statements conveying messages that are far from being complementary to the person and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
They want the public to believe that their prosecution is utter disregard by the Executive Arm of government for the constitutional provisions of separation of powers and that preferring the forgery case against them is a vendetta exercise.
Since this case is in court, the Judiciary should be allowed to do its job. However, it is important to emphasize that this case involves only the four accused persons and should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the Police by some aggrieved Senators who specifically accused certain persons. It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives. To bring the National Assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted. It can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.
A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals. This is not different. As was the case with a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery, what he did was to resign, honourably. The matter did not even go to court. In that particular case, it was never orchestrated as a matter for the National Assembly. The individual involved did not drag the entire Legislature into the matter.
Meanwhile, the separate statements by the Senate President and his Deputy are indeed contradictory. While Senator Saraki believes Mr. President has abdicated his powers and that a cabal is in charge of Federal Administration, Senator Ekweremadu says President Buhari has become a dictator.
Our democracy is still evolving and being deepened. The provisions of the separation of powers are entrenched in our Constitution and should guide everyone in our conduct. The rule of law is indeed supreme. This particular case is before the judiciary and is not being decided by the Executive Arm of Government. All that has transpired is still within the confines of our laws. These are the rights to accuse, to be investigated and be arraigned before the court.
To impute other considerations to the process is unfortunate. We should allow the process to take its course, in consonance with the dictates of the law and total obeisance to the cardinal democratic principle of the separation of powers.
Senator Saraki in his statement clearly insinuated that Mr. President is not in control of his administration and that a cabal now runs the federal administration. On the part of Senator Ekweremadu, he insists that President Buhari is exhibiting dictatorial tendencies that can derail our democracy.From their statements, the two leaders of the Senate also gave this erroneous impression that by their arraignment, it is the entire Senate and indeed, the Legislative Arm of Government that is on trial.
They want the public to believe that their prosecution is utter disregard by the Executive Arm of government for the constitutional provisions of separation of powers and that preferring the forgery case against them is a vendetta exercise.
Since this case is in court, the Judiciary should be allowed to do its job. However, it is important to emphasize that this case involves only the four accused persons and should not be presented to the unsuspecting public as involving the entire Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The complaint leading to the forgery investigation was reported to the Police by some aggrieved Senators who specifically accused certain persons. It is not the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is involved and definitely not the House of Representatives. To bring the National Assembly as a body into this court case is totally unwarranted. It can only be for other purposes and reasons outside the investigation and legal proceedings.
A case of forgery is usually preferred against individuals. This is not different. As was the case with a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of certificate forgery, what he did was to resign, honourably. The matter did not even go to court. In that particular case, it was never orchestrated as a matter for the National Assembly. The individual involved did not drag the entire Legislature into the matter.
Meanwhile, the separate statements by the Senate President and his Deputy are indeed contradictory. While Senator Saraki believes Mr. President has abdicated his powers and that a cabal is in charge of Federal Administration, Senator Ekweremadu says President Buhari has become a dictator.
Our democracy is still evolving and being deepened. The provisions of the separation of powers are entrenched in our Constitution and should guide everyone in our conduct. The rule of law is indeed supreme. This particular case is before the judiciary and is not being decided by the Executive Arm of Government. All that has transpired is still within the confines of our laws. These are the rights to accuse, to be investigated and be arraigned before the court.
To impute other considerations to the process is unfortunate. We should allow the process to take its course, in consonance with the dictates of the law and total obeisance to the cardinal democratic principle of the separation of powers.
(Signed)
Babachir David Lawal
Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Babachir David Lawal
Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Who do we believe now?
ReplyDeleteIssokay
ReplyDeletePls egbon olu kindly do something about this " iam not a robot " stuff to comment is now a big isshh very tiring haba!
ReplyDeleteIt will be a plus for us in Nigeria if the three arms of government are effective, let the executive carry out their function without bias, legislature face their business & judiciary maintain law & order. They should jettison the erroneous impression of witch hunting when one or the other arms is doing their job. Nigerians are wise enough to distinguish between right & wrong.
ReplyDeleteThank you Hassan. Nigerians are wiser now to be deceived by these looters who call themselves leaders. They enrich themselves while preaching honesty, accountability, justice, and other good virtues. We are watching the way things are going. The Judiciary should acquit itself honourably in the matter. God help Nigeria.
DeleteNice write up
ReplyDeleteDats dia problem
ReplyDeleteSentiment does not come into crimes the law of the land must take its cause. If a quitted so be it and if found guilty so be it. Nigerian laws must not be toothless bull dog for the high and mighty.
ReplyDeleteI just wonder what all this their statement has to do with the trial they are facing?.
ReplyDeleteWe don c am, just ur opinion though..
ReplyDeleteWhatever pls
ReplyDeleteissokay.
ReplyDelete#Olu,can you see?
This is the first time in our democracy that top officers are tried we are happy about it, it is change we voted for so people should stop complaining.
ReplyDeletetwo contradictory messages, PMB is exhibiting dictatoship, PMB is not in control of this govt, how one will be dictator and at the same time is not in control, these ple are looking for escape route, no way, u shall face ur trial
ReplyDeleteSaraki and his deputy are selfish.
ReplyDeleteAll this their matters tire person
ReplyDeleteDem no dey remember dem constituents wen dem wan selfishly defraud their constituents and the nation.
ReplyDeleteDem quick to put on their constituent regalia for sentiments wen dem don catch dem.
@ Hassan, dis is not about wichhunting, it is about d moral justification or otherwise of what dey do,bearing in mind dat every of our action has consequences! Saraki is running Naija Senate as his own private empire, nd I suppose he's not above d Law of d land! Common use of english is needed to know dat he nd 3 others are defendants to d case nd not senate or house of Rep, so let him face his music or resign his position 4 other serz minded pple hu ar ready to live nd lead by example.
ReplyDeleteBUKOLA SARAKI AND HIS DEPUTY IKE EKWEREMADU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES TO QUIT OR RESIGN
ReplyDelete