ABUJA: Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal has dismissed
insinuations that he is responsible for the ongoing trial of some principal
officers of the senate.
Reacting to statements credited to Senate President,
Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu to the effect that there
is now a cabal that have usurped the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari, the
SGF described the remarks as uncomplimentary to the person of the president.
He
said rather than drag the entire National Assembly structure into the case, it
must be stated that its only Messrs Saraki, Ekweremadu, Salisu Maikasuwa and
Ben Efeturi that are on trial.
In the statement he personally signed the SGF
averred; “Since the arraignment of the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola
Saraki and, his Deputy Senator Ike Ekweremadu before the Federal High Court on
Monday, June 27, 2016, the two leaders of the Senate, have issued two separate
press statements conveying messages that are far from being complementary to
the person and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
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”
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