Alleged Forgery: Group Warns Senate Against Blackmailing Buhari

The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) has asked the Senate to put the interest of the nation above personal interest and stop blackmailing President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged forgery charges leveled against its principal officers by the Federal Government.
The BMSG said it was disappointing that the upper legislative chamber wants to blackmail the president into submitting to its whims and caprices by stampeding him into interfering with the court summons of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

A federal high court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday postponed the arraignment of Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu till Monday summon for alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules that was used to elect them as Senate president and deputy Senate president, respectively last year June.
Messrs. Saraki, Ekweremadu will be arraigned alongside a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, on two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery of the Standing Rules.
While the defendants deny the charges leveled against them, the PDP Senate caucus yesterday said it withdrew its support for the Buhari administration over the pending arraignment of the presiding officers.
But the BMSG, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Muhammad Labbo, and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke and made available to newsmen in Abuja, said that as lawmakers, the senators ought to be on the same page with the president and his administration to uphold the laws of the land.
They further stated that rather than constitute themselves into obstacles in the quest to reposition the country and ensure obedience to the rule of law, the senators should be seen to show good example to the citizenry.
The statement said: “we wish to remind the Senate that President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn to an oath to uphold the nation’s constitution, and no attempt should be made by any individual or group to undermine this sacred responsibility.
“Additionally, it needs to be restated that the summons emanated from the petition raised by some senators over the forgery of the Senate standing order, a ground norm for conducting business in the hallowed chambers of the Senate.
“The BMSG strongly believes that the individuals mentioned in the summons will have an opportunity in the court to prove their innocence, rather than using the hallowed chambers of the Senate to fan embers of division, and ill-feeling against the President.
“The BMSG implores that as the representatives of their various constituencies, the senators should always work together with the executive to address the myriad of problems besetting Nigeria.
“We therefore urge the Senate to immediately withdraw their uncouth language against the president and render an unreserved apology to Nigerians”.