The alleged forgery suit brought against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state by the All Progressive Congress, APC, and one of its members Edobor Williams has been dismissed.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed in his Judgment on Saturday held that the evidence before the court is not substantial in nature as the Plantiff failed to prove the case of forgery beyond reasonable doubt and therefore dismissed the case
Obaseki had won the September 2020 governorship election in Edo state under the platform of the people’s democratic party, PDP while the all Progressive congress, APC with its governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-iyamu came second.
The university of Ibadan 1979 certificate forgery allegation was part of a fresh concerted move to unseat Obaseki from office by APC seeking to quash his nomination by PDP for the governorship election.
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Shortly after PDP in Edo state adopted Obaseki as its governorship candidate for the September 19 election, the aggrieved party went ahead to institute an action on July 14 , 2020. The suit was abandoned but later revived to oust Obaseki from office having won the election.
In the suit, Governor Obaseki’s counsel ken Mozia, called three witnesses one of which was a professor, Eghosa Osaghae who in his testimony insists that the certificate presented by Governor Obaseki is genuine despite some missing information on the photocopied one presented to INEC. He emphasised that the portion of the date and registrar’s signature was cut off in the process of photocopying.
The plaintiff also called 6 witnesses, his counsel, akin Olujimi insists that they have proven their case beyond reasonable doubt therefore their claims of certificate forgery against governor Godwin Obaseki should be upheld.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed laid all controversies to rest when he dismissed the suit on the ground that the plaintiff did not make any efforts to cross check both university certificate and that of WAEC that issued the certificates they claimed were forged despite the fact that evidence brought by the prosecution witnesses is completely at variance with the accusation on ground.
The defendants witness went ahead to present the original certificate which is tagged a direct evidence and the suit was dismissed.
With the constitutional provision of i80 days for pre-election matters this suit is expected to lapse on January 13, 2020.
(EDITOR: TERVERR TYAV)
