The Federal Government has formerly withdrawn the forgery charges against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others, because of a pending case related to the charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

When the case resumed on Friday, lead prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Umar, SAN, told Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Jabi Division of the FCT High Court, that “This government respects the rule of law, and hierarchy of the judiciary.

“It is obvious from these two applications (filed by Saraki and Ekweremadu) and the similar case before your learned brother, Justice Kolawole, at the Federal High Court who is dealing with the issue that we are withdrawing the charges.

“It is trite that two matters of the same subject matter cannot be before different courts of coordinate jurisdiction.”

Umar sought that “the amended charge dated October 5, 2016 and also the original dated June 10, 2016 and filed the same date be struck out and all the four defendants be discharged.”

The case before Justice Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which Umar referred to was a civil case filed by a serving Senator, Gilbert Nnaji, challenging the then ongoing investigation into the alleged forgery of the Senate rule by Saraki and the others.

The application by Umar for the withdrawal of the charges was not opposed by the defence counsels, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, Mahmud Magaji, Paul Erokoro and Joseph Daudu, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN.

After hearing the applications, Justice Halilu struck out the case and discharged all the four accused.