Tribunal reserves judgement in suit challenging Niger Governor’s election

The election petition tribunal in Niger State on Tuesday
reserved judgment in the petition filed by Umar Nasko of the PDP,
challenging the return of Gov. Abubakar Bello as winner of the
March governorship election in the state.

NAN reports that Nasko, the PDP candidate in the March
governorship election in the state, had dragged the APC candidate,
Bello and his deputy Ahmed Ketso, before the tribunal.

Nasko alleged that Bello and Ketso presented forged academic and
birth certificates to INEC.

The tribunal adjourned after all parties adopted their final
written addresses.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice John Igboji, said that a
date for judgment in the matter would be communicated by the
secretariat to all parties in the matter.

Counsel to Bello, Mr Ojonimi Apeh, prayed the tribunal to
dismiss the petition based on the evidence before it.

“Exhibits D1 and D2 has laid to rest the question of whether or
not the respondents submitted forged documents.

“By the totality of the evidence in this case, we urge the
tribunal to dismiss this petition,” he added.

On his part, counsel to the APC, J.J Usman prayed the court to
discountenance the petitioner’s final address on grounds that it
exceeded 40 pages in violation of the 2011 court practice
direction.

Usman accused the petitioners of trying to reopen a case they
lost at the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal.

“The tribunal and the Federal High Court have concurrent
jurisdiction.

“The tribunal therefore cannot sit as appellate court on
decision of the Federal High Court and Court Appeal,” he added.

In his own submission, counsel to INEC, Wole Akinjide, SAN, said
case of forgery cannot be resolved without evidence from the
institution whose certificate was allegedly forged.

Akinjide cited authorities to back his argument saying the fact
that Bello’s certificate was carrying 1993 while he graduated in
1991 did not mean he forged it.

He further explained that certificates could be issued years
after one had graduated.

In his response, counsel to the petitioners, Mohammed Ndayako,
asked the tribunal to grant their prayers as the documents before
it spoke for themselves

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