Published January 19, 2021
Adeyinka Adedipe , Benin
A forensic expert , Raphael Onwuzuligbo , on Monday told an Edo Election Petitions Tribunal that Governor Godwin Obaseki presented two different University of Ibadan degree certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission in 2016 and 2020 .
Onwuzuligbo , a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police , testified as a subpoena witness in the case filed by the Action Democratic Party, and its governorship candidate , Iboi Emmanuel , who are challenging the victory of Obaseki on the claim that he was not qualified to contest the election on alleged certificate forgery and perjury .
Under cross- examination by the counsel for the respondents , the retired police officer noted that the UI’s certificate presented by Obaseki in 2016 was different from the one he presented to INEC in 2020 .
ADP and its governorship candidate , in the petition with reference number : EPT / ED / GOV / 01 / 2020 , joined INEC , Peoples Democratic Party, Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress, and its governorship candidate , Pastor Osagie Ize – Iyamu, as co – respondents in the matter.
The party prayed the tribunal to disqualify Obaseki over the alleged controversial UI certificate and nullify the votes cast for him , thereby ordering INEC to conduct a fresh election involving all other qualified governorship candidates , excluding PDP and Obaseki.
The forensic document examiner was grilled during cross examination by the lead counsel to INEC , Chief Adegboyega Awomolo , SAN; PDP , Rotimi Oguneso , SAN ; Obaseki, Ken Mozia , SAN; APC , Emmanuel Usoh ; and Ize – Iyamu, Austin Osarenkhoe.
Justice Yunusa Musa, leading two other judges ( Justices Suleiman Abubakar and Olufunmilayo Stanley) , adjourned till Tuesday for continuation of hearing in the ADP ’s petition.
At the Monday sitting , the hearing of the petition by the governorship candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, Tracy Agol , who also prayed for an order to compel INEC to conduct a fresh election involving all the qualified candidates, excluding PDP and Obaseki, did not hold .
Counsel for the first respondent ( INEC ) in Agol ’ s petition, Razak Isenalumhe , opened his defence by tendering the Certified True Copies of INEC ’s timetable and schedule of activities for the September 19 last year ’ s election in Edo State, without objection from the lead counsel to PDP , Hamed Raji ; Obaseki, Ken Mozia, SAN; and Agol , Stella Agoha.
In Agol ’ s petition , the chairman of the tribunal adjourned till Wednesday for defence of the second respondent, PDP .