Ekweremadu Writes Int’l Community, Says Buhari Wants to Silence Him

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has written to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and governments of the United States and United Kingdom, alleging attempts by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.

Also copied in the letter were the United States Congress and European Union (EU) Parliament.

This is just as the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami is expected to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters tomorrow, where he is likely to face questions on his decision to prosecute Senate President Bukola Saraki,  Ekweremadu and four others for allegedly forging the Senate rules.

He is also likely to be grilled on the conflict of interest arising from his involvement in the same case a year ago, when he represented Saraki’s opponents in the Senate in his private capacity as a lawyer.

In the two-paged letter, titled “Re: Trumped up Charges Against the Presiding Officers of the Eighth Senate: Nigerian Democracy is in Grave Danger”, Ekweremadu insisted that Buhari’s government wants to silence him as the highest ranking opposition leader in the country by prosecuting him for alleged forgery.

Ekweremadu also attached to his letter, copies of the court summons and other relevant documents relating to the charge.

He urged the international community to go through the documents and determine if the trial was justifiable or one purely borne out of political vendetta.

He insisted that neither his name nor that of Saraki featured in the petition by members of the Senate Unity Forum (SUF) or during the investigation of the petition by the Nigeria Police.

He alleged that he was denied fair hearing in the matter, adding that the police did not interact with him before he was charged to court.
He urged the international community to determine if the trial was not politically motivated, a witch-hunt, barefaced intimidation and an attempt to emasculate him.

• Letter sent to UN, EU, US, UK, others • AGF to appear before Senate tomorrow, may be grilled over conflict of interest as counsel to Unity Forum senators

 

By Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

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