…Faces Slew Of Election Petitions, Appeal
Days after an Abuja Federal High Court dismissed the certificate forgery suit against Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, the issues surrounding the Governor’s certificate were once again brought to the fore at the Edo Election Petition Tribunal, Monday, raising fresh concerns in the Obaseki’s camp.
A forensic expert, Raphael Onwuzuligbo, who testified on Monday before the Edo Election Petition Tribunal claimed Obaseki presented two different University of Ibadan (UI)’s Bachelor’s Degree certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2016 and 2020.
Onwuzuligbo, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) testified as a subpoenaed witness in the case before the Tribunal.
The case was filed by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel, who are challenging the victory of Obaseki on the claim that he was not qualified to contest the election in the first instance, pinning their petition on allegations of certificate forgery and perjury brought against the Governor.
Under cross-examination by the counsel to the respondents, the retired police officer maintained that the UI’s certificate presented by Obaseki in 2016 was different from the one he presented in 2020 to INEC.
ADP and its governorship candidate, in the petition marked: EPT/ED/GOV/01/2020, is praying the tribunal to disqualify Obaseki over the alleged controversial UI certificate and nullify the votes cast for him. It also wants INEC to conduct a fresh election involving all other qualified governorship candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki.
Joined in the petition as Co-respondents are INEC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The forensic document examiner was grilled during cross-examination by the lead counsel to INEC, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN; PDP, Rotimi Oguneso, SAN; Obaseki, Ken Mozia, SAN; APC, Emmanuel Usoh; and Ize-Iyamu, Austin Osarenkhoe.
Following the witness’ testimony, Justice Yunusa Musa, adjourned the matter till Tuesday for the continuation of hearing in the ADP’s petition.
The New Diplomat recalls Justice Ahmed Mohammed of Federal High Court in Abuja had on Saturday, 9th January, 2021 cleared Obaseki of the certificate forgery allegations to emphasise his victory at the September 2020 Edo Gubernatorial election.
In the dismissed suit, the APC through a chieftain of the party, Williams Edobor had accused Governor Obaseki of forging his Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed had dismissed the case on grounds that, “the concession of the plaintiffs’ witnesses that they did not bother to go to the University of Ibadan or any of the institution that they claimed Mr Obaseki forged their certificates, was enough to let the case to rest.”
The judge noted that the Deputy Registrar (Legal) of the University of Ibadan had given evidence in the suit that the university duly issued the certificate to Governor Obaseki.
“Having thoroughly analysed the evidence of this case, it is the conclusion of this court that plaintiff did not forge his O’Level Certificate, his HSC certificate, and particularly his University of Ibadan degree certificate.” Justice Mohammed said in his ruling.
The APC has since vowed to appeal the ruling moment after the verdict was delivered.
Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki is facing a slew of court cases bordering on the last guber poll in Edo as a petition by the governorship candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Tracy Agol, is also praying for an order at the tribunal to compel INEC to conduct fresh election involving all the qualified candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki.
Also, at the tribunal, other petitions slated for later hearing include petitions from Action Peoples Party (APP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The petitions also sought the nullification of the September 19 re-election of Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, while calling for fresh election by INEC without the participation of PDP, Obaseki and his running mate, in view of the call for their disqualification over alleged forgery of their certificates.
The sundry cases have put a lot in the plate for Obaseki and the members of his camp to chew as Ize-Iyamu’s camp, the APC and other parties that took part in the election continue to mount a mouthwatering challenge in a bid to overturn Obaseki’s re-election.
