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Tag: Certificate Forgery

  • Alleged certificate forgery: Obaseki opens defence today

    Alleged certificate forgery: Obaseki opens defence today

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo will today, (Tuesday Jan. 5), open his defence at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the ongoing alleged certificate forgery suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against him.
    The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned the matter on Monday for Obaseki to open his defence on Jan. 5, after the APC closed its case after calling six witnesses.
    The APC and one of its chieftains, Mr Williams Edobor, dragged Obaseki to court for allegedly forging his University of Ibadan degree certificate.
    They said he submitted the certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of his educational qualification to contest the Sept. 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo.
    Other defendants in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC.
    The fifth and sixth witnesses, Mr Gabriel Iduseri and Mr Maikano Asekomhe, in their testimonies, claimed that Obaseki forged his university of Ibadan certificate because of alleged discrepancies in the Certified True Copies (CTC) they said they obtained from INEC.
    Iduseri who claimed to be the current Caretaker Zonal Youth leader of the APC, however, admitted that he had never seen Obaseki’s original University of Ibadan degree certificate.
    He also stated that his allegations were based on photocopies obtained from INEC.
    Similarly, Asekomhe, who claimed to be an Associate Professor of Banking and Finance at the Benson Idahosa University, Benin, also said he had never seen Obaseki’s original certificate.
    He said he could therefore, not comment on the original certificate.
    At the end of cross examination of the sixth witness, lead counsel to the APC, Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN), informed the court that his clients were through with their case and would want to close it.
    Justice Mohammed subsequently ordered that the case of the plaintiffs be closed and ordered the first defendant, Obaseki, to open his case on the next adjourned date.
    Meanwhile, Justice Mohammed, in a judgment delivered on Monday, struck out the case of the National Rescue Movement against the nomination of Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu and AbdulGaniyu Daudu as governor and deputy governorship candidates respectively of the APC in the Sept. 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo.
    The judge struck out the case on the grounds that the case had become an academic exercise.
    He said this was because the election had been conducted, winners emerged and Ize-Iyamu and Daudu were not challenging the outcome of the polls at the ongoing election petition tribunal in Edo.
  • Court adjourns Obaseki’s certificate forgery case indefinitely

    Court adjourns Obaseki’s certificate forgery case indefinitely

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely proceedings in the suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member, Edobor Williams, praying for the sack of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    The plaintiffs are querying Obaseki’s academic qualification and want the court to disqualify him.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed yesterday granted a request by Obaseki’s lawyer, Ken Mozia, for an indefinite adjournment to enable the Court of Appeal determine an application to stay pending appeal.

    Justice Mohammed, who said he was not ready to put his court on a collision course with the Court of Appeal, said he would prefer to await the appellate court’s decision on the application for stay of further proceedings.

    The judge said none of the parties drew his attention to any authority that allows a trial court to continue proceedings when an application for stay of proceedings and appeal against its decision were pending before the appellate court.

    He said he would await the Court of Appeal’s decision on the application for stay and was ready to proceed with the case should the appellate court so direct.

    Olujinmi said parties would be before the Court of Appeal today in respect of the application for stay of proceedings filed by Obaseki.

    Edo University, Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area, established by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has been renamed through an executive bill.

    Ten of the 24 member-House of Assembly amended the law establishing the university. The lawmakers amended Section Four of the Edo State University Law, thereby replacing Iyamho with Uzairue, the generic name for Etsako clan.

    The lawmakers acted on the executive request, with the committee of the whole suspending Rule 20 of the Assembly to enable it consider the request and amend the university’s law, which was quickly done.

    Speaker Marcus Onobun directed that the bill be given an accelerated third reading for clean copies to be sent to Obaseki for assent.

  • Edo poll: Why we can’t investigate, disqualify Obaseki over certificate forgery saga – INEC

    Edo poll: Why we can’t investigate, disqualify Obaseki over certificate forgery saga – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it does not have the power to investigate or disqualify candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo during the September 19 election of Governor Godwin Obaseki, over alleged forgery of the University of Ibadan’s (UI) certificate.

    It noted only a court order could disqualify a governorship candidate from participating in an election.

    INEC stated that it could not investigate the originality, authenticity, or otherwise of the disputed UI’s first-degree certificate presented to the commission by Edo Governor because it was beyond its responsibility.

    The electoral commission, as the first respondent in the petition filed by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel, at the Edo governorship election petitions tribunal in Benin, made the submissions in its reply, with a copy obtained on Sunday.

    The reply was signed by INEC’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    The electoral commission said: “The information given by the third respondent (Obaseki) in the affidavit and documents submitted by him as a candidate at the election in INEC’s nomination form (Form C.F. 001) are presumed manifestly true or prima facie correct until and only if the contrary is proved and/or pronounced false by an order of the court.”

    PDP, last week, admitted there were noticeable errors in Obaseki’s UI’s certificate, which it claimed occurred while filling the forms for the election in 2016.

    It claimed the governorship candidate “mistakenly” wrote 1976 as his year of graduation, which ought to be his year of admission.

    The PDP said: “At the time Obaseki was completing his Form CF001 in 2016, he deposed to an affidavit, stating that he had misplaced the originals of all of his certificates, while changing offices, with the intention to apply for a re-issuance if his certificates.

    “The original certificate was issued in A5 size. In order for the photocopy of the certificate to be attached to Form CF001, the size was reduced to A4 and in the process, leaving out some information on the certificate.”

    Five petitions were filed at the tribunal chaired by Justice Abdulrazak Abdulkareem against INEC; PDP; Obaseki and his deputy/running mate, Philip Shaibu; the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its standard-bearer, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Besides ADP and its governorship candidate, there were four other petitions from Action Peoples Party (APP) without joining its governorship candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Ukonga Onaivi; Allied Peoples Movement (APM), excluding its governorship candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede, and Tracy Agol, without joining her political party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    The petitioners prayed the tribunal to nullify the September 19 election over forgery, perjury, and massive rigging as well as ordering a fresh election with the exclusion of PDP and Obaseki.

  • BREAKING: Court strikes out certificate forgery suit against Obaseki

    BREAKING: Court strikes out certificate forgery suit against Obaseki

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit filed against the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.

    The plaintiffs, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/553/2020 accused the Governor of engaging in certificate forgery.

    Listed as plaintiffs in the suit are Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Abudu Godwin and Amedu Dauda Anakhu.

    They accused Obaseki of forging his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) certificate in Classical Studies from the University of Ibadan.

    The plaintiffs contended that the alleged certificate forgery contravenes section 182(1)(i) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    They prayed the court to among others, hold that Obaseki is “not qualified to run or seek election to the office of the governor of Edo State” in the forthcoming 2020 governorship election.

    At the mention of the case on Monday, neither the plaintiffs nor their lawyers were in court. The defendant too was not represented.

    In view of the development, Justice Anwuli Chiekere proceeded to strike out the suit.

  • Obaseki accused of certificate forgery, sued [Court papers attached]

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has been dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for alleged certificate forgery and perjury.

    The case was filed on 29 May.

    The plaintiffs in the case, according to a report by Independent, are Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Abudu Godwin and Amedu Dauda Anakhu.

    Joined as defendants are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector- General of Police (IGP).

    The litigants want the court to determine whether Obaseki presented a fake University of Ibadan certificate to run for election in 2016.

  • Bayelsa guber: Tribunal invites Deputy Gov over alleged certificate forgery

    Bayelsa guber: Tribunal invites Deputy Gov over alleged certificate forgery

    The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has invited the state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to appear before it at the resumption of its sitting on June 1, 2020.

    The invitation, which is in the form of subpoena duces tecum (witness summons) issued by the Chairman of the tribunal on May 5, 2020, directs Ewhrudjakpo to appear in person and tender a copy of his disputed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exception certificate allegedly issued in 1998.

    The tribunal issued the subpoena at the close of pleadings during the pre-hearing stage and upon the issuance of pre-hearing report in respect of the petition filed by the candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, Vijah Opuama.

    An acknowledgement copy of the subpoena, sighted by The Nation in Abuja, was served on the Bayelsa Deputy Governor on May 8, 2020 at the state’s Government House.

    The subpoena reads in part: “You are commanded in the name of the President and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before this Tribunal on the 1st day of June 2020 at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above case is tried, to give evidence on behalf of the petitioner and also bring with you and produce at the time and place aforesaid: The original copy of the NYSC Exemption certificate with serial No. 139708 dated 2nd February I998 in the name of Ewhirudjakpo Lawrence 0.”

    The petitioner alleged that Senator Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged documents and documents containing false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 16 November 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    The petitioner is praying the tribunal to disqualify the Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, Senator Ewhirudjakpo and their political party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – and order for a fresh election without the disqualified PDP.

    Listed as respondents in the petition are INEC, the PDP, Diri and Ewhirudjakpo.

  • Bayelsa: APC Deputy Governorship candidate opens on Supreme Court Judgement, alleged certificate forgery, others

    Bayelsa: APC Deputy Governorship candidate opens on Supreme Court Judgement, alleged certificate forgery, others

    All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the Bayelsa State governorship election in Bayelsa State, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo has debunked the premise which the Supreme Court based its stunning verdict of 13 February, nullifying his election, along with the governorship candidate, David Lyon.

    The Supreme Court held that Degi-Eremienyo presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    But the senator said he did not forge any certificate and accused the court of reputation damage.

    Degi-Eremienyo, who spoke for the first time to reporters in Abuja, said the allegations were not proven and that those who issued the certificates were never contacted.

    “The aim of this press conference is to defend my reputation which the Justices of the Supreme Court, whether consciously or unconsciously, subjected to scurrilous scandal, assault and unfair imputation.

    “The judgment of the Supreme Court that I was not qualified to contest as the deputy governorship candidate of APC and my attendant disqualification adversely affected the governorship candidate of the APC.

    “The result was that our hard-earned victory, not just for ourselves, but our party and the majority of the good people of Bayelsa State who have entrusted us with the mandate to democratically govern them, is threatened.

    “The event of my disqualification is distressing and traumatising to me personally and, of course, a greater trauma was inflicted on my party, the governorship candidate and the good people of Bayelsa who signified their choice of who should be their governor and deputy governor.

    “It is this unsolicited assault on my personality and reputation by the judgment in question that has constrained me to chart this course.

    “Unless unfair imputation to character is quickly corrected, it assumes the toga of truth.

    “It was clearly a desperate and calculated attempt not just to grab power through the judicial process but equally to tarnish my good image and bring same to disrepute on completely false and unproven allegations.”

    Senator Degi claimed that he was denied a fair hearing.

    “As a lawmaker, I know that what Section 182(1) (j) of the Constitution contemplates is that a candidate cannot present forged educational certificates not belonging to him to aid his constitutional qualification.

    “Forgery can, therefore, not be defined in different context simply to lower the burden of proof in order to meet a political end.

    “The seeming discrepancies in my name, which I have adequately explained by an affidavit, was not impeached by any evidence that the names were misspelt by the issuing authorities.

    “The issuing authorities who are accessible by my accusers were not called to impeach my assertion in the affidavit explaining away these errors I stated which were not illegal.

    “As a lawmaker, I have enormous regard for the judiciary. I am aware that my party has headed to Supreme Court for a review of the judgment.

    “By the grace of God, our second journey to the Supreme Court will end in celebration.”

  • Kwara governor-elect certificate forgery allegation: It’s laughable – APC

    Kwara governor-elect certificate forgery allegation: It’s laughable – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says allegation that Kwara governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq forged his Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC) is laughable.

    The APC said those spreading the falsehood were engaged in a futile exercise.

    The governor-elect was alleged to have forged the SSSC he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the state’s gubernatorial election.

    Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, that the allegation was politically motivated.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the politically sponsored allegation against the APC Kwara governor- elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, that he forged the SSSC he presented for election.

    “We understand the desperation of the sponsors of this campaign of calumny to get power through the back door after the crushing defeat they suffered from Kwara electorate in the last general elections.

    “While it is the right of the rejected opposition and their proxies to approach the election tribunal relying on their flimsy and false claims, we assure Kwarans that it is an exercise in futility,” he said.

    Issa-Onilu said the allegation would surely come to nought, adding that challenging the popular mandate given to Abdulrazaq amounted to mere shadow boxing.

    He noted that the outcome of the elections in Kwara was an expression of a collective resolve of Kwara electorate for a new progressive order that had long eluded the state.

    He, however, stressed that the APC was confident in the Kwara governor-elect, affirming that all documents he submitted to INEC for the election were authentic.

    He, therefore, urged APC members in Kwara not to exercise any doubt about the governor-elect, but to gear up for the task of setting the state on a path to progress under Abdulrazaq.

  • ‘Allegations of certificate forgery against Kwara gov elect baseless’

    ‘Allegations of certificate forgery against Kwara gov elect baseless’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, Mr Oluwafemi Yusuf, on Saturday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of a plot to distract the state’s governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, with the allegation that he forged the Senior Secondary School Certificate he presented for his election.

    Yusuf, who spoke to journalists in Ilorin, said the governor-elect hails from a renowned family in Ilorin and would not involve himself in a scandalous act as being alleged by the opposition.

    He said there were many traps set for the APC prior to the conduct of the just concluded elections which the party eventually surmounted and expressed the hope that the current allegation would also end as an exercise in futility.

    The APC stalwart stated that the party was unfazed with the attempts to blackmail Abdulrazaq, adding that the incoming government had passed that stage and was busy working for the good of the state.

    “The issue of certificate or no certificate is one of the plots the opposition set for us. There were a lot of traps that they set for us to put us on our toes like that of an APC faction. But we were able to overcome that.

    “Issue of certificate scam in the country is not a new thing. We have heard series of allegations of certificate scandals aside from that of Toronto (against a former Speaker of the House of Representatives).

    “This is just another gimmick to blackmail our governor-elect. But I want to assure you that Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq comes from a renowned family.

    “The family is very proud of itself. And honestly I used to envy that gentleman. None of the children of Alhaji Abdulganiyu Abdulrazaq has been found wanting.

    “Our governor-elect is somebody that has dealings with people around the world. So, if at this point in time somebody is raising allegation about certificate, it could be suspicious.

    “I don’t believe in that. I believe it is one of the political gimmicks of trying to distract the incoming government, and where we are in Kwara State now, we have passed that stage.

    “Let them continue to unveil their gimmicks while we are busy working on the new Kwara.’’ Yusuf said.

    On the expectations from the incoming government, the APC chieftain said Kwara had been driven back in the last few years but gave an assurance that the state would rise again in the next four years.

    “I’m one of the very strong voices in saying that Kwara has been driven back in the last 16 years.

    “ Kwara is one of the first generation states that we have in the country including Rivers, Kano and Lagos.

    “Out of these four states, which one of them can one compare Kwara with? If the succeeding governments after (Mohammed) Lawal had followed the foundation he laid, it wouldn’t have been as bad as this.

    “I want to project and foresee that in the next four years Kwara will start rising. I’m not saying we would be there in the next four years but we would start rising.

    “ My prayer is that we should not see another driver that will drive us backward the way we were driven back in the last 16 years.

    “It is because we are misplacing our priority here. Projects that doesn’t concern the masses or are people oriented were being executed,’’ he said.

    Yusuf also said the APC in the state had succeeded in what could have instigated crisis within its fold during the pre-election period.

    He said party leaders were concerned about the development of the state which prompted them to forgo their personal ambitions.

    “There is not going to be crisis. The most fragile thing that can break the party is what we have overcome.

    “ That was during our primaries. The struggle is about the people of Kwara, not about them (aspirants),’’ he said.

  • Alleged certificate forgery: PDP to sanction three for dragging Adeleke to court

    The Southwest Zonal office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said three members of the party in Osun state including, Olalekan Awosiyan, Thomas Ojetade and Sina Awodire would be recommended for sanctions in accordance with the party’s constitution for “dragging the Peoples Democratic Party and its gubernatorial candidate in the last Osun election, Senator Ademola Adeleke to court over issues that bothers on alleged fake certificate.”

    The zonal Secretary of the party, Reverend Bunmi Jenyo who made the disclosure in Ibadan on Thursday, also accused the trio of “employing blackmail to destabilize the party for reasons best known to them.”

    Jenyo who said the zone would soon recommend the alleged ‘culprits’ for disciplinary action, used the occasion to dispel the claim by Ojetade that he (Jenyo) threatened him to withdraw from the suit they instituted against Adeleke.

    The PDP scribe, in company of another witness to the peace accord, a Senatorial Youth leader, Osun East, Mr Kazeem Ogunsola, claimed Mr Ojetade willingly agreed to withdraw the suit following a peace meeting initiated by the zonal Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso, and was never at any point pressurised to so do.

    Jenyo reiterated that “the petitioner (Mr. Thomas Ojetade) opened up that the three plaintiffs involved in filing the suit at that time wanted to fight Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi’s course as a result of the party’s refusal to give him the Osun West Senatorial ticket and Coordinator, Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization in Osun state”.

    According to him, the case against the eligibility of Adeleke was pre-planned, prepared and signed at the Ile-Ogbo residence of the said former governorship aspirant.

    He added that it was unfortunate that Ojetade is now coming out to play double game after giving his consent for peace to reign in the state’s chapter of the party.

    According to Jenyo “Having been instructed by the leadership of our party in the Southwest under the Chairmanship of Dr. Eddy Olafeso, to investigate the matter and resolve it amicably, I went to lle Ife on Friday, November 16th to hold meetings with the petitioners.
    “I could not locate all the three petitioners in the suit until the intervention of Ife Federal Constituency candidate, Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro who connected me with Osun East Senatorial Youth Leader, Mr. Kazeem Ogunsola who brought in one of the petitioners, Mr. Ojetade Thomas to the house of Hon. Ajilesoro in Parakin, Ile-Ife on Saturday 17th November 2018 morning.

    “I was invited to discuss with Mr. Thomas Ojetade and Mr. Kazeem Ogunsola at the venue but the meeting could not hold due to the unconducive atmosphere as a result of the various political activities at the house of the House of Representatives candidate. So, Hon. Ajilesoro suggested that both persons follow me to my house in Abere, Osogbo for a peaceful meeting.

    “Mr. Thomas Ojetade who happily agreed also called another plaintiff in the suit, Mr. Awodire Sina Peter who also promised to join us in the course of the meeting. The latter however, did not show up while the meeting lasted.

    “After a lengthy discussion, he felt sober and apologised for roles played in the case. As a result, he voluntarily agreed to withdraw from the case with immediate effect, in the interest of the Party.

    “It was at that juncture, that he had to speak with the lawyer, Mr. Temitope Elusogbon, who prepared the affidavit, on the telephone. He signed the document in front of me and Mr. Kazeem Ogunsola and promised to come alongside the Youth Leader, to court on Monday November 19 for further processes to finally withdraw the case for out-of-court settlement. He asked for financial compensation for his efforts and further discussions were mutually agreed to be shifted till Monday, after court sitting.

    “Obviously, the meeting was peaceful, no interference whatsoever, it was only three of us. I instructed my driver to drop him at the garage and offered him Six Thousand Naira (#6,000) only for his transportation back to Modakeke, his abode.

    “I am particularly surprised to receive a phone call from one Inspector Emmanuel who asked whether I threatened him to sign the document. I, therefore explain to him that the concocted story of a police pointing gun at his head never arise, indeed, no policeman or any other person attended the meeting with the three of us only.

    “Another surprise was a Press Conference he addressed in Osogbo on Tuesday where he wrongfully and deceitfully accused my personality of threatening him and his family.”

    Also, Ogunsola confirmed that Ojetade signed the document without any threat whatsoever, saying “what actually happened is that Ojetade is trying to eat from two pots. No one threatened him. I can say this anywhere and anytime, he himself knows the truth. He should not allow himself to be used as a spoilt cook in Osun PDP.”

    The trio had on 30 October 2018 approached a high court sitting in Osogbo, contending that the participation of the Senator Adeleke at, and his return as the winner of the party’s governorship primary held on 21st July, 2018, “for the purposes of electing the gubernatorial candidate of the party and his subsequent participation at the governorship election of the 22nd September, 2018 as the party’s candidate was null and void on the account of false information and submission of false documents to electoral commission.”