Justice Yusuf  Halilu  Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday granted bail to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, and two other accused persons — Salisu Maikasuwa, former clerk of the national assembly, and Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the legislature who were arraigned before him on two count charges of forgery and conspiracy by the Federal Government.

Paul Erokoro, the Senate President’s counsel, ‎had asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition, arguing that Saraki was “too big” to run away from trial.

“The entire proof of service did not mention the third defendant (Saraki) in this case. The police never investigated the third defendant.”

He further argued that Saraki has been standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and as such, he cannot run away from trial now.

“He is the president of the senate, where will he run to? He is too big to hide.‎ I urge your lordship to grant him bail on self-recognition.”

In the same vein,  Joseph Daodu (SAN) counsel to Ekweremadu, also asked the court to grant his‎ client bail on self-recognition.

“The third and fourth (Ekweremadu) defendants are number one and two citizens of the legislature. We are ready for trial even today, so we urge your lordship to grant‎ the fourth defendant bail.”

Ikechukwu Ezechukwu and Mahmud Magaji, counsel to Maikasuwa and Efeturi respectively also asked the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.

But Muhammadu Diri the prosecutor said the court can grant Saraki bail.

He however opposed the bail applications of the other accused persons.

‎”The prosecution don’t want to oppose the bail application of Bukola Saraki because he is the senate president — we don’t want to create a vacuum in the legislature,” he said.

“But we vehemently oppose the bail applications of the fourth (Ekweremadu), first (Maikasuwa) and second (Efeturi) defendants. The three defendants evaded the process of service. The three defendants if granted bail may evade trial,” Diri said.

But in his ruling, Justice Halilu noted that the essence of bail is to ensure that the accused persons attend their trial. He added that since the accused have not been found guilty, there is no need to deny them bail.

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He therefore granted the three accused persons bail with conditions that they must provide two sureties who must be Nigerians with properties in Asokoro, Wuse 2 or Garki areas of  Abuja.

The conditions did not apply to Saraki whose bail application was not oppossed by the prosecution.

The judge adjourned to July 11 for trial.

Saraki, Ekweremadu,  Maikasuwa and Efeturi had earlier pleaded not guilty to  charges of alleged criminal conspiracy and forgery of the senate standing rule‎s, 2015, brought against them by the federal government.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arm Zone, Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves, to forge the Senate Standing Order, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed the offence of Conspiracy, punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law.”

Count two reads: “That you Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr. Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arm Zone, Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with fraudulent intent forged the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended) causing it to be believed as the genuine Standing Order, 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the 8th Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when you knew that the said Order was not made in compliance the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order, you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.