Judge excuses self from certificate forgery suit against Plateau lawmaker

Justice Musa Kurya of Jos Federal High Court, on Friday excused
himself from a certificate forgery suit against a Plateau lawmaker,
Hon. Ibrahim Baba-Hassan.

Baba-Hassan, representing Jos North Constituency at the State
House of Assembly, had through a motion by his counsel. Mr Solomon
Umoh (SAN) prayed the Judge to excuse himself from the case having
earlier delivered judgment against him in a sister case.

Kurya, had in a 2015 pre-election matter, filed against
Baba-Hassan by Mr Abdu Saleh, also of APC, pronounced the lawmaker
guilty of forging University of Jos’ Diploma Certificate in
Business Administration.

When the suit, filed by the Federal Government against the
lawmaker came up for hearing, Umoh told the court that he was
challenging the sincerity and moral justification of the Judge in
handling the case.

Umoh argued: “Since you have given judgment against my client on
the sister case, we have lost confidence in you and pray to your
lordship to excuse himself from this very case.’’

“This is the position of the law. Once you have given judgment
on a sister or related case, you cannot be the one to continue with
the other.

“So we are applying to your Lordship to honourably step aside in
this matter and let your other brother, or any other Judge, handle
this case in the interest of justice.’’

Mr Una Mathew-Udu, the Prosecuting Counsel, did not object to
the application.

Kurya, however, announced his decision to step aside and excused
himself from the criminal case leveled against the lawmaker.

“In the interest of justice, I hereby excuse myself from this
forgery suit against the defendant by the Federal Government,’’
Kurya declared.

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