By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—Justice Yusuf Halilu of an Abuja High Court sitting in Jabi, yesterday, deferred the arraignment of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery, till June 27.

The court also ordered substituted service of the charge on the defendants by pasting it at the notice board of the National Assembly.

The order followed an oral application by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. David Kaswe, who told the court that effecting personal service of the charge on the defendants proved “very difficult.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate

He said the prosecution had also deposed an affidavit to show efforts it made to furnish the defendants with copies of the charge against them.

He, therefore, urged the court to invoke sections 123 and 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and okay that the charge be served on the defendants by substituted means.

In a brief ruling, Justice Halilu acceded to the request, though he noted that the prosecution ought to have supported the application with a motion ex parte.

However, the judge said he was minded to grant the oral request for substituted service, considering the need for the defendants to be aware of the charge pending against them.

The case was subsequently adjourned till next Monday for arraignment of the defendants.

Other defendants in the charge are the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and his Deputy, Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

The four defendants were accused of complicity in alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders, 2015.

The alleged bogus Standing Order was used to conduct the July 9, 2015 election that brought Saraki and Ekweremadu to the leadership of the Senate.

Government said the defendants had, by their conduct, committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) and 364 of the Penal Code Act.

The charge was a fallout of investigation police conducted into a petition by a group of lawmakers under the aegis of the Senate Unity Forum, SUF, which alleged that the Standing Order used for the July 9, 2015 election of principal officers for the 8th Senate was doctored.