Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Saturday, dismissed a certificate forgery case filed against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, a report monitored on Channels TV said.
Obaseki’s former party, the All Progressives Ccongress, APC, and Williams Edobor, one of the party’s chieftains, had filed a suit alleging that the governor presented a forged certificate to seek re-election in the September 19, 2020 Edo State governorship election.
According to the plaintiffs, the said document was purportedly issued by the University of Ibadan, while the governor presented same to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which conducted the poll.
In his judgement, Justice Mohammed held that the plaintiffs relied on the photocopied document presented by Governor Obaseki without getting in touch with the university to verify the authenticity of the said certificate.
He added that no iota of truth was brought before the court by the plaintiffs who alleged forgery, saying it was a criminal matter. But the claimants were unable to prove their case, the judge said.
Justice Mohammed noted that the Deputy Registrar (Legal) of the University of Ibadan had adduced evidence to prove that the university duly issued the certificate to Obaseki.
According to him, the governor was duly and properly admitted to study Classics which was later renamed Classical Studies in 1976 and graduated in 1979.
Justice Mohammed concluded that the plaintiffs failed to prove their allegations of forgery against Governor Obaseki and, thereby, dismissed the case without costs.
During Thursday’s proceedings, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Akin Olujimi, adopted his final written address.
He urged the court to affirm their position that the governor presented a forged certificate to the electoral umpire and was unfit to occupy the office.
This was, however, rejected by Governor Obaseki’s counsel, Ken Mozia, who asked the court to dismiss the suit over what he described as the plaintiff’s failure to prove their case.
Justice Mohammed answered his prayers and the case was dismissed accordingly.
