- He Built And Destroyed – Amaechi, SAN
The certificate forgery case involving Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic PDP governorship candidate, Mr Umo Eno and an aspirant Akan Okon continued on Tuesday as an Investigative Police Officer, CSP Chris Endeley was in the dock for questioning.
Akan Okon’s counsel, Barr. Okey Amaechi, SAN was delighted to finally quiz a crucial defence witness after an unsuccessful attempt on the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Assistant Registrar last week.
Amaechi, SAN told reporters that, Mr Chris Endeley contradicted his progress. “The policeman, if you were there you will see he built and destroyed. The major thing we were able to establish was to make him understand that he fabricated the documents he tendered.”
Amaechi further claimed that the police officer had signed the documents ahead of the date WAEC wrote the tendered letter. The plaintiff’s counsel similarly stated that the photocopies of the certificates certified by WAEC were not valid because of contradictory dates.
“It was certified even before the Commissioner (Commissioner of Police) minute investigation petition to him (Mr Endeley). He couldn’t have had it by then if it was authentic.”
Amaechi equally established that the police officer is a supporter of Umo Eno, as such fabricated documents to help him. He accused Mr Endeley of not tendering the investigation report and the letter written to the Commissioner of Police.
In a separate description of the cross-examination process, led counsel to Umo Eno, Paul Usoro, SAN highlighted the salient point made by Mr Endeley. He said the police officer’s findings were that WAEC disowned the letter from the Association for Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria, (AADN).
“The letter which was admitted earlier from WAEC to the AADN, that letter they purportedly wrote was not from WAEC.”
Usoro, SAN also advised that to challenge the validity of the letter, WAEC would have been invited to confirm the authenticity of the letter.
“But it is too late, they have closed their case.” Usoro, SAN observed.
On the disparity of dates on the letters tendered from WAEC to the police for investigation, the defence to Umo Eno gave additional explanations.
“There were two sets of letters, and the gentleman (Chris Endeley) said he collected the letter on the 5th and he was with WAEC when he received a letter from them. There was a subsequent letter that was also written and sent directly to the Commissioner of Police.
“The more critical issue is if there is a letter and I say I prepare the letter, the only way you can impeach whether that letter was not prepared by me is by me having to come and look at the letter and say this letter is not my letter. That I never made that letter!”
Usoro emphasised that from the onset, the defence team earlier noted that the letter from WAEC to AADN was not legitimate.
“The only way they themselves could have proved that it was from AADN is by having to invite somebody from AADN to come and testify and also somebody from WAEC.”
However, Justice Agatha Okeke at the Federal High Court, Uyo, directed the defence counsel to file addresses within 10 days and the plaintiff 10 days while another 5 days was for the defence to reply.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to 14th October.
