• Ekweremadu, Ndoma-Egba, Enang, others summoned

•I know nothing about it, says ex-Senate leader

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From Fred Itua, Abuja

The Police have re-opened a case of alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules by some lawmakers and has summoned presiding officers of the Seventh Senate and other individuals to appear before it.
The rules were allegedly forged to alter the pattern of electing presiding officers from the initial open ballot system to secret ballot at the inauguration of the Eighth Senate on June 9, 2015.
The alleged forgery also included alteration of the pattern of the nomination of committee chairmanship in such a way that the new rules permit an opposition party to chair ‘Grade A committees,’ against the convention in the past.
The letter of invitation, dated June 6, 2016, and signed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, James Caulcrick, listed the affected officers to include immediate past Senate President, David Mark, his deputy, who is also incumbent Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; former clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, former chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang and committee clerk, Dr. Nma Ogozy (dead).
The letter was tagged: “first reminder” as it made reference to an earlier letter written by the police to the officers on July 1, 2015 with the caption: “Forgeries/Fraudulent Use of Senate Standing Order/Rules 2015 (as amended) by the Eighth Senate.”
Although the police did not include incumbent Senate President Bukola Saraki on the list of invited officers, it was learnt yesterday, that the police is under pressure from higher authorities to also include Saraki on the list.
When contacted, Ekweremadu’s media adviser, Mr. Uche Anichukwu said he was not aware of any letter from the police.
Similarly, Mark’s spokesman, Mr. Paul Mumeh also denied knowledge of the letter.
But, Senator Ndoma-Egba distanced himself from any forgery and invitation by the police.
“I was not summoned about any forgery as  I left before the inauguration of the Eighth Senate. I know nothing about the forgery,”
Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang could not be reached for his reaction.
“I refer to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police’s letter No. CR:3000/X/FHQ/ABJ/VOL. 186/98 dated July 1, 2015, requesting the under-listed officials of the Seventh Senate to report to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department for the purpose of conducting investigation on the above subject matter: Senate president, deputy Senate president, majority leader of the Senate, clerk of the National Assembly, clerk of the Senate, chairman and secretary Business and Rules.
“As at the time of writing this letter, none of the officials in the above Seventh Senate list honoured the invitation to respond to the allegations, except the clerks of the National Assembly and Senate.
“Consequent upon the above, you are kindly requested to inform the listed officials yet to respond to report to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department on June 9, 2016 for the purpose of further investigation on the matter.
“While hoping that you will accord this request the urgent attention it deserves, please accept the warm regards of the Inspector-General of Police.”