APC closes alleged certificate forgery case against Obaseki after presenting witnesses
- The APC is not backing down in its bid to get Governor Obaseki disqualified in the September 19 governorship election in Edo state
- After presenting witnesses to back up its claims in its certificate forgery case against the Edo governor, the APC has finally closed its case
- The court subsequently adjourned till Tuesday, January 5, to enable Obaseki and the PDP open their defence
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to make progress in its alleged certificate forgery case against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state.
Channels TV reports the party closed its case against the Edo state governor at the resumed hearing of the suit on Monday, January 2, at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Legit.ng gathers that the plaintiff’s counsel, Akin Olujimi, closed the case with the cross-examination of an expert witness, Raphael Onwuzuligbo, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police and a forensic document examiner.
Source: Twitter
Witness reveals key things allegedly missing from Obaseki's certificate
In his testimony during cross-examination by counsels to Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the witness said the University of Ibadan logo on the governor’s certificate appears to have been compromised.
He also said the signature of the vice-chancellor of the university was missing from the certificate not because the document was poorly scanned but that it was actually missing.
The APC's counsel said the testimony of the witness further proved their case against Governor Obaseki just as the court adjourned the hearing till Tuesday, January 5, to enable the governor and the PDP open their defence.
Nigerians react
Reacting to the APC's suit on Facebook, Hassan Mamud said:
"The controversy surrounding Obaseki's certificate is not new. The same issue was raised by PDP against him in the first tenure.
"Unfortunately, PDP filled the suit against the time permitted by law. Obaseki needs to convince court that he duly earned the certificate and if any error therein was not delibrate to his benefit."
Nathaniel Praise Agada commented:
"This government is not serious at all. Are you questioning the authenticity of his result or the university logo on it? This man has won an election and allow him to work for his people."
Omotayo Adeoti said:
"This country hen!!!any time they want to start this their nonsense with themselves they will start with the issue of fake certificate, are they telling us that it is very difficult for them to do proper investigation on their result from the beginning?"
Barr Longji Josiah said:
"In law or while giving evidence in court and you mentioned the word "Appears" that amount to opinion and the court cannot attach much weight to such piece of evidence.. More especially as an expert evidence/ witness.."
Mfon James said:
"Obaseki should be on ground and understand that his forced rehired predecessor oshiomole is using every available resources to fight back while portraying Iyamu and APC at the front. Know that politicians don't easily forgive and forget."
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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the APC tendered two more documents in support of its allegation against Governor Obaseki at the Federal High Court.
One of the documents was the original copy of a first-degree certificate awarded to one Emmanuel Balogun by the University of Ibadan on July 6, 1979.
Recall that Governor Obaseki had also said he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Classics from the same university in the same year.
In another report, the Federal High Court in Abuja had voided the suit by the PDP which challenged the participation of Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC in the Edo governorship election.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, December 29, Justice Mohammed ruled that the PDP's application was not only academic but unnecessary in light of the outcome of the election.
The court pointed out that the suit holds nothing because the APC's flagbearer in the Edo gubernatorial election has not challenged the result of the poll.
Obaseki vs Ize-Iyamu: Edo residents pick next governor | - on Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
