Ize-Iyamu, Obaseki Case Resumes December 9

As the perjury suit against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State at the Federal High Court Four, Abuja resumes tomorrow Wednesday 9th December 2020, the judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed said the parties  involved in the case must be mindful of the life span of the matter.

He said they have to bear in mind that they would have to call witnesses to give evidence with regards to the disputed issue.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who took ill and was absent at the last sitting of the case through counsels to the plaintiffs and defendants, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN, and Mr Ken Mozia, SAN, respectively were present.

Justice Mohammed stressed that the suit, being a pre-election matter, has a life span of 180 days that will expire by January 16th, 2021. He therefore urged the lawyers to cooperate with the court to ensure speedy determination of the matter.

The suit marked FHC/B/CS/74/2020 is a perjury suit the APC and Williams, a member of the party, instituted against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State accusing him of forging the University certificate he submitted to INEC, in aid of his qualification for the governorship election held in Edo State on September 19.

The APC which is ready to open the case will be calling witnesses to buttress its claims that there are discrepancies in the subjects that Obaseki claimed he passed in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam and the subjects in his secondary school testimonial.

The party will be praying the court to declare that Obaseki’s claim in his INEC form EC9 at column C, sworn to on June 29, 2020 at the Federal Capital Territory High Court Registry to the effect that he obtained from the University of Ibadan in 1979, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Studies, is false and contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

They will also want the court to declare that Obaseki lied on oath when he swore to an affidavit on June 29, 2020 that he worked in Afrinvest Limited from 1994 to 2014 when he retired.

Among other things, the Plaintiffs will be seeking, “A declaration that the 1st defendant is disqualified from contesting election to the office of Governor of Edo State for non-fulfilment of the constitutional requirement in section 182(1)(j) of the Constitution of Nigeria and upon presenting false/forged certificate to INEC contrary to Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010”.

They want the court to declare that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, “having sponsored a candidate who supplied false information on oath and presented false/forged certificates to INEC is not entitled to participate in the election scheduled for September 19 or on any other date that may be appointed for the purpose”.

In addition, the Plaintiffs will ask the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki and the PDP from the September 19 governorship election, as well as, an order directing INEC to remove the name of the PDP and its candidate from the ballot paper or election records or materials.

Aside governor Obaseki, other Defendants in the matter are the PDP and INEC. Recall that Justice Mohammed in the past drew the attention of all the parties to the fact that the suit was lodged since July 14.