Isiaka Oyibo
31 October 2008
The allegation of certificate forgery leveled against the Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris, by his predecessor, Prince Abubaker Audu, may have been laid to rest following yesterday affirmation by the Principal Exams Officer, private candidates Examinations of the West African Examination Countil (WAEC), Mr. Sylvester Iyorke, of the validity of the governor's ordinary level certificate.
Mr Iyorke who appeared before the Justice Abdullahi Yusuf-led tribunal, said the notification of the result tendered by the petitioner was fraudulent as the certificate in dispute did not emanate from his office.
The WAEC official who cleared the Governor of alleged certificate scam also tendered the original and embossed certificate of the governor stressing that the decision to do so was necessary to put the records straight.
Earlier, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Prince Audu had through his counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) objected to the appearance on grounds that the WAEC official was not included in the respondents in the case.
Dr. Izinyon told the tribunal that a notice to produce the certificate in dispute was served on the respondents but failed to make them available.
He urged the tribunal not to allow Iyorke give evidence as he sought to contradict the evidence already preferred.
The tribunal chairman after the tension soaked arguments between the two parties, in his ruling said section 21 of the evidence acts cited as authority by the petitioner was not applicable because the petitioner had written to retrieve the documents from WAEC.
Justice Yusuf said the certificate sought to be tendered would give the defendant the opportunity to clear himself of the allegation that he did not posses the relevant certificate to contest the governorship of Kogi state.
He however admitted the certificate in evidence.
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