Court dismisses certificate forgery suit against Obaseki

A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a certificate forgery suit against Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and one Williams Edobor, a chieftain of the party, had filed a suit against Obaseki, accusing him of forging the first degree certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable him contest the governorship election.

They submitted that the certificate which the governor claims is from the University of Ibadan did not carry a date of issuance and signature of the registrar.

But the governor had denied allegations of forgery.

He insisted that the error on photocopy of his certificate which he submitted to INEC was made by a photocopying machine.

Also, Abayomi Ajayi, an official of the legal unit of the University of Ibadan, who was summoned to testify as a defence witness told the court that the institution issued a Bachelor of Arts certificate to Obaseki in 1979.

Ajayi said the university carried out different demonstrations which revealed that some part of the certificate was cut off, owing to the size of paper that was used.

Delivering judgment on Saturday, Ahmed Mohammed, the judge, held that the plaintiffs, failed to put credible evidence before the court in proof of their case.

“None of the witnesses called by the plaintiffs was able to prove that the certificate as forged,” he said.

“In fact, the witnesses admitted that none of them visited the University of Ibadan to confirm the authenticity of the certificate.

“The plaintiffs only relied on photocopies that were attached to the Form EC9 the 1st defendant submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Consequently, the judge dismissed the suit.