The case against Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; the immediate past Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules was, on Friday, struck out.
Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Jabi Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), struck out the case and discharged the four accused after the Federal Government had withdrawn the forgery charges instituted against them,
Lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aliyu Umar (SAN), declared that the charges were being withdrawn because of a pending case related to the charges before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
All the defence lawyers – Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN), Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Joseph Daudu (SAN) – supported the application by Umar for the withdrawal of the charges.
Umar told Justice Halilu: “This government respects the rule of law and hierarchy of the judiciary. It is obvious from these two applications (filed by Saraki and Ekweremadu) and a similar case before your learned brother, Justice Kolawole, at the Federal High Court who is dealing with the issue, why we are withdrawing the charges.
“It is trite that two matters of the same subject matter cannot be before different courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“Therefore, the amended charge dated October 5, 2016 and filed the same date be struck out and all the four defendants be discharged”.
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