The certificate forgery allegation brought before the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Enugu State against Governor Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been dismissed.
The Tribunal on Thursday ruled that the case brought before the court by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate, Elder Christopher Agu, lacked merit.
The PRP candidate had earlier told the tribunal that Mbah forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, while also alleging that the election that produced him as governor was marred with irregularities.
However, the Justice Kudirat Morayo Akano-led Tribunal, in its judgement, held that the petitioner could not prove allegations of fraud against the respondent.
The Tribunal held that there was no evidence before it to support PRP’s claim that a forged certificate was submitted to INEC, adding that the issue was not contained in the petitioner’s affidavit.
In particular, it stated that to prove forgery, both the original and the supposedly forged certificate ought to have been exhibited.
On the issue of plea bargain by Mbah, the Tribunal averred that the exhibits presented by the petitioners didn’t show any plea bargain by the respondent. The court said the evidence presented by Mbah was to the effect that he was acquitted of the charges.
The panel also averred that witnesses called by the petitioners couldn’t specify the polling units where the elections didn’t hold nor the results of same.
READ ALSO: Rivers Policeman Dismissed For Killing Father Of Three
It concluded that the governorship election of March 18 and the return of Governor Peter Mbah as winner complied with the provisions of Electoral Act, 2022.
In another news, security operatives crack down on Sagamu cultists, House of Assembly member, six others in DSS net
Security operatives in Ogun State tracked six suspected cultists, allegedly involved in the violence that erupted in Sagamu at the weekend to the official residence of a member of the state House of Assembly.
The member, representing Sagamu State Constituency (1), Hon. Damilare Bello Mohammed, was said to have been arrested for allegedly providing shelter for the culprits.
A team of security operatives, in a sting operation after a tip-off, arrested the suspects in the premises of the lawmaker.
Those arrested, according to sources, include Damilare Bello Mohammed aka DRE, Debbo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya and Tobi Owoade.
They are presently undergoing interrogation at the Department of State Service (DSS).
Sources revealed that many dangerous weapons, including guns, were recovered from the suspects.
It would be recalled that Hon. Bello was arrested by the DSS for allegedly masterminding the violent protest that took place in February this year in Sagamu over the naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
During the protest, irate youths vandalised about 10 banks and other public infrastructures.