By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY
DESPITE still basking in euphoria over the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing the allegation of certificate forgery against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, the University of Ibadan’s (UI’s) Bachelor’s Degree certificate of the governor yesterday resurfaced at Edo State election petitions tribunal in Benin where a forensic expert, Raphael Onwuzuligbo, testified on the allegation of forgery and was cross-examined by the counsel to the respondents.
Onwuzuligbo who said he is a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) appeared based on the subpoena by Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel and he claimed that the UI’s certificate presented by Obaseki in 2016 was different from the one he presented in 2020 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
By Adibe Emenyonu
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, will on Friday appear before the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin to testify, based on subpoena in a petition by Action Peoples Party (APP).
Yakubu’s appearance was sequel to a subpoena signed by the tribunal, which was brought by the Counsel to the APP, Mr. Segun Fiji, to compel the INEC boss to appear before it on Friday.
Consequently, the lead counsel to APP at yesterday’s hearing, hailed the judges of the tribunal for yesterday’s signing of the subpoena that he applied for on December 10 last year, which would be served on INEC’s chairman in Abuja, to compel his appearance in Benin.
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Adeyinka Adedipe, Benin
THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, will on Friday appear at the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin to testify, based on subpoena in a petition by Action Peoples Party.
The Justice Yunusa Musa-led three-member tribunal, on Tuesday heard the petitions of APP; the governorship candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, Tracy Agol; and Allied Peoples Movement, while today (Wednesday) would be for the commencement of hearing in the petition by the Action Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel.
Agol and a witness in her petition, Tawakalitu Umoru, testified on Tuesday at the tribunal and they were cross-examined by the lead counsel to the respondents.
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Adeyinka Adedipe, Benin
The Justice Yunusa Musa-led three-member Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Monday, started the hearing of four remaining petitions against Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
The outcome of the petition will determine whether or not the two will continue in office also joined in the suits is the Peoples Democratic Party.
The four remaining petitions were filed by Action Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party, without joining its governorship candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Allied Peoples Movement, excluding its governorship candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede, and Tracy Agol, without joining her political party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday began hearing on the four remaining petitions filed against the re-election of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the September 19, 2020 election.
The Tribunal had earlier on December 11, 2020 dismissed a petition by the Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Ukonga Onaivi for falling to file a pre-hearing notice.
However, the Justice Yunusa Musa-led three-member tribunal continued sitting on Monday in Benin, the Edo State capital on the four remaining petitions.
The remaining petitions were filed by Action Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Iboi Emmanuel; Action Peoples Party, without joining its governorship candidate, Amos Areloegbe; Allied Peoples Movement, excluding its governorship candidate, Igbineweka Osamuede, and Tracy Agol, without joining her political party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party.