Tinubu hails withdrawal of forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu

October 8, 2016Ben Ezeamalu

Photo credit: www.thebreakingtimes.com

A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has described the federal government’s withdrawal of forgery charges against presiding officers of the Senate as a welcome development.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Mr. Tinubu said the government’s decision would help the APC focus on bringing progressive change it promised Nigerians.

“New legislation will be required to help pull the nation out of the economic mire,” Mr. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, said in the statement issued by his media aide, Tunde Rahman.

“With these forgery charges found not to apply, it is good that they be dismissed so that the national assembly may focus on this important work ahead.”

The Nigerian government of Nigeria on Thursday filed a motion to withdraw the charge of criminal conspiracy against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu, as well as a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former Deputy clerk, Ben Efeturi, were first arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu on June 10, 2016 via charge No. CR/219/16.

They all pleaded not guilty on July 27, 2016.

The government, however, initially amended the charge to prosecute only Messrs Maikasuwa and Efeturi, but later withdrew the entire case.

Messrs Saraki and Ekweremadu had promptly issued a statement on Friday saying the decision was a vindication of their positions that they were innocent of the charges.

But Mr. Tinubu said this was no time for celebration.

“While those involved may understandably feel a sense of relief or vindication, this is no time for them to celebrate or to believe all is well with the nation simply because all has turned out well for them on this matter,” said Mr. Tinubu.

“All is not well. Throughout the nation, the people stagger and groan under the weight of economic hardship. This government and our party must hear and respond to their plea. We must lead the way.”

The former governor also said that a mind unburdened by the specter of possible legal liability is free to devote itself to the pressing matters of state.

“Consequently, this action presents a unique window of opportunity for the national assembly to reset its bearings and to focus on the real issues at hand,” he said.

“History will not look kindly on those involved if they were to squander this fine chance, as never before, Nigerians look to the various arms of government to perform their roles so that the country can walk the path of change and renewal.

“May those who are the beneficiaries of this legal outcome now rededicate yourselves to fulfilling the progressive tenets of the APC and to honoring the promises we made to the people with regard to their governance and well being.

“Now that you have overcome this legal battle, you must dedicate yourselves to helping Nigeria win the greater war against poverty, despair and failure.”

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Top News

Arabakpura

The Jagaban Borge has scored another political goal! I enjoy you better like this!
- MaskedPhantom
  
  A political own goal…
  - Arabakpura
    
    No, I am happy that he understood that he was being outfoxed; so the release has blighted the fact that he was not happy with the way he has been treated recently! Also, there is the thinking that the trial was pursued in the beginning to pacify him!
    - MaskedPhantom
      
      But silence would have been an apt response on his part. He’s fooling no one with this false pontification.
      - Arabakpura
        
        That’s politics for you!
- emmanuel
  
  Jagajaga banned!
  He has only maligned himself. Because we all saw his hand in Sarakis traivail. Recalled his wife refuse to shake Saraki after he was sworn in and went to the extent of occupying Ekweremadu’s seat on an occassion. The eveil that men do leave with them.
  He is now a leper, as even Akande is too weak and irrelevant to support him and Aregbesola is tired of transferring his state money to Lagos – although we know the village called Iragbiji is in Osun state.
  The same blood that runs in the Onitsha man who built a House on hill in Abeokuta that will rather all Igbos are set ablaze because of the typical Yoruba title called Omo a*e
  - aisha ani
    
    Political leper!
- shadow
  
  The man is wiser than what you think. He will never mix water with kerosene. Just watch and see.
ayobamiba

Shame on tinubu,his axis of evil APC and their malicious clueless vindictive sleepwalking government. may God save and deliver Nigeria from their evil hold.
- Mufu Ola
  
  May God save u from yourself!
Man_Enough

where was tinubu all these while? so if i go and topple the leadership of the national assembly, right now, and succeed in installing myself, the best option is to leave me so that peace may reign. there is no doubt that the code of conduct bureau case is already under the carpet. i am disappointed.
NinjaK

hmnn….. good politricks at play….
MaskedPhantom

Sad, sad Bola. Your house of cards is speedily crashing around you. Your enemies are being let loose to lust after your blood. No amount of grovelling and putting up a false front will save you from the bloodthirsty jackals that will hunt you to death. This time, the classic Yoruba tactics of flattery to hide deceit won’t work, as the hunters have mastered the footprint of their prey. The long darkness of the night is about to begin for you.
Fret not Asiwaju, we shall sing a fitting dirge for you, an elegy of a man drowned by self and greed!
- emmanuel
  
  Please we need some poets like you here on regular basis. It becomes boring sometimes to have only trouble makers like us.
  Jagajaga banned from APC is seeking last minute relevance. Let him build his new Yoruba political block and beging negotiation with SS, SE and Middle Belt on which way Nigeria.
  When the last National Conference took off, he behaved as if he had solution to Nigeria problem because of his inordinate ambition, his stand alone deposition to a well meant gesture has also made him a stand alone reject today,
  Tinubu, why do you think the Bill your wife sponsored did not even move far? nemesis!
emmanuel

Onike, Kay Soyemi and all the hailers, your Jagajaga banned APC leader has spoke on the finality of the matter. I beg, you Yorubas should learn to move on with Nigeria and chart a future for your ethnic group instead of your vain hope of camaraderie from a foolani.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s press release on his instigated case is raising a banner for surrender in a lost battle. Which way jagajaga banned, now that the cabal have teamed up finally with Saraki to outwit you?
- MaskedPhantom
  
  Two choices face Jagajaga ban – political oblivion or death.
  - emmanuel
    
    Unfortunately, his health has not been too sweet.
    Meanwhile, Oluremi is enjoying the money power she now has and all his political godsons too have turned their backs on him. Osinbajo cannot even relate with him having been gagged by the cabal.
    On politics, the man is finished and i am sure he is now waiving the olive branch to stave off possible prosecution and he gets to exuberant.
    This is Awolowo’s case playing up again. O ma se o!
    - Ayo
      
      Do you know what you are saying at all
Omole

Dear Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I love u. I’m proud of u! may God’s pleasures & Honour be upon u all the days of your life. Your enemies will never like u but God shall destroy them…. God willing.
- emmanuel
  
  How about those he destroyed their political careers with his impositions. Do you not think their blood are crying for Justice?
  The dead do not hear, if not Funso Williams should have a long laugh by now.
  - Taiwo
    
    are u unemployed? You’re everywhere in this firm
Charles Coteen

Tinubu is the greatest politician in Nigeria as at the present
Sir Demo

Likely the Ojora family has sent emissaries to Asiwaju o.
- emmanuel
  
  Hey, must you show the Yorobber in you? Something don spoil and your still dey give am life.
  I once heard of how some mama dey use rock salt (potash or kaun) to give soured pot of soup some life so that the poor family can eat.
  Na dat kind thing you dey do for Jagajaga ban now.
  She would rather go buy yellow and red capsule for the children by spending more money than the money she would have sent to cook new pot of soup.
  Ayodele Fayose and Iroko are too hard for Tinubu to swallow.
  Have you forgotten also that Kashumu sef dey? What of Baba Gorilla and OGD?
  Olu Falae cannot bow to him, abi na Afenifere remnants?
  I beg make una return am to budillon make una dey go pilgrimage there and collecting some patronage than leave him to go sour in Abuja
Ayo

Tinubu’s name has been written in Gold.
- emmanuel
  
  Before nko? there are fake Gold everywhere. Just use them for a while and your money is gone.
Opekete

Hatred is the driver of some people’s life not ideology or progressive thought. Personal hatred by leaders and the led that have been fed with the sour soup of lies cannot see anything good in the success of others. I have heard some insane minds insinuating that Awolowo committed suicide and those people should be careful or else their own thought about Awolowo’s death may come to be their portion.
Taiwo

Buhari is mentally sick apparently as a result of his old age. Otherwise, I don’t think it’s normal for him to seek to hunt down the man who facilitated his ascension to power. It defies logic; it doesn’t make sense at all.

But Tinubu is a smart man though age is no longer on his side. He will play along until the right time comes.
Tijani

Everyone now wants it to look like they were against FG’s witch hunt and wild goose chase against Saraki/Ekweremadu

Tinubu is pragmatic in his tactical and elder statesman style statement. He lives to fight (most probably Buhari) another day, having directed his supporters to join AD.

The most honest and salient part of his statement is where he said “charges found not to apply”

Found not to apply?

Evidently the Buhari-Osinbajo Federal Government that laid the false charges of corruption and forgery held NASS hostage and wasted government money by the billions were based on a false charge sheet of politically motivated lies concocted by the abracadabra pen of the self appinted resident “legal brain” none other than Fake Pastor Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (who also doubles as Tinubu’s personal legal advisor) on false charges that were clearly NOT investigated for veracity before being laid so wrongly.

Alas Fake Pastor and his co-concocters Professor Itse Sagay and their 99 SAN strong team of crack lawyers were blinded by paid political prejudice to drag the Senate, the Senate President and even the Saraki’s wife into the morass, while the political cabal wrestled with the democratically impossible evil aim of creating crime where there was none.

Tinubu is right, this is not a time for celebration but Fake Pastor has much to answer for, the least of which are abuse of office, criminal libel, false accusation, malicious prosecution and waste of public funds. Buhari should replace his ethically challenged Fake Pastor Vice President Osinbajo immediately. Every blunder this administration has committed, including this crippling recession has been at the advice and direction, to Buhari, of 2 evil midgets, Fake Pastor Dwarf Midget Yemi Osinbajo, aided in his evil mission by Fake Mallam Dwarf Midget Nasir El Rufai.
Muhammad

Politics can be painfully interesting .
Tinubu and Atiku on the same side again .
It may be that Tinubu and Buhari have realized that shaving requires wetting the head if it must be skin shave .
GbemigaO

Yeye people. When they were being prosecuted, you supported the government. Now that you are now an outcast, you are trying to re-align. Not for Nigerian interest, but for your own interest. You think we are fools ?