FG filed Saraki ‘forgery’ suit before I became AGF, Malami tells senate

Abubakar Malami on Wednesday said the criminal charges suit filed by the federal government against Bukola Saraki, the senate president, and Ike Ekweremadu, his deputy, predates his appointment as attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

Saraki and Ekweremadu are accused of forging the senate rules 2015, which led to their emergence as senate president and deputy senate president, respectively.

Appearing before the senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters chaired by David Umaru, Malami said that while he was appointed AGF in November 2015, the case was filed in July.

“I wish to state here that I am in support of democracy and I will do anything within the constitution to preserve the democratic processes, “he said.

He explained that the criminal suite with reference number FHC/ABJ/CS/646/ 2015 was filed on July, 23 2015 alongside a report of the concluded investigation by the police.

“I was appointed on the 12th day of November 2015, that is precisely about four months. As at the time I came to office, the report was concluded, “he said.

“The case was instituted before the court for the sustenance of the rule of law but not in any way to truncate the democratic process.”

Malami went on to state that once a matter is in court, neither the executive or the legislature can look into it.

“It will be overreaching on my part to make any insinuation on the case, “Malami added.

At this point members of the committee asked the AGF if the charges were filed for the sake of public interest and if they were in accordance with due process.

Responding, Malami said the suite was filed based on public interest and justice.

According to him, the senate standing orders 2015 amendment did not pass through the traditional procedure.

He added that if the standing orders did not come through the right procedures, it becomes criminal, which is in breach of section 60 of the Nigerian constitution.

Umaru, chairman of the committee, said the executive was intruding on the business of the legislature, adding that the separation of the powers in a democracy should be respected.