Judge throws out Bukola Saraki petition

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday lost in his bid to quash a case challenging his election as the Senate President, reports NewsDay. Saraki in his first response to the various suits arising from the crisis over the alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Orders 2015, which was used for his election, alleged that the court papers were not properly served on him. Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja in his ruling on Saraki’s objection, dismissed the complaint filed by Saraki . In dismissing Saraki’s objection, Justice Kolawale noted that the counsel to the Senate President, Sikiru Oke, who said he appeared for the Saraki in protest, has not filed “memorandum of appearance,” which lawyers must file before they can represent their client in court with respect to a particular case. Some senators, who are opposed to the emergence of Sarak as the Senate President had approached the court to seek for the cancellation of the election The senators seek, among other prayers, an order nullifying the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as well as the election of Saraki as the Senate President and that of Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President, for being products of the alleged illegal rules.