Tribunal dismisses certificate forgery case against Gov. AbdulRazak

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Kwara State, on
Friday, dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) petition
seeking the nullification of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazak’s
election.

The chairman of the tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Justice Bassey
Effiong, said the petitioners were alleging directly that the
second respondent, AbdulRazak presented a fake WAEC certificate to
INEC before the March 9 gubernatorial election.

Effiong said the PDP candidate, Mr Razak Atunwa, failed to prove
the allegations.

“All evidences before us show that Abdulrazak sat for the
examination and was therefore qualified to run for the office of
the governor.

“From all the evidences before us, we hold that the petition
lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” the chairman of the three-man
panel, announced in an unanimous judgment.

Effiong said the law stated that where a petitioner made the
commission of a crime the kernel of his petition, then he must
prove it beyond reasonable doubt.

“Has the petitioners discharged the burden of proof expected of
them, and rom the evidence in this case, the answer is a resounding
‘No’.

“We hold that all the evidences presented by the West African
Examination Council (WAEC) which the petitioners had relied upon
and the subpoena, were at variance with the pleadings of the
petitioners,” he said.

Effiong said WAEC, which is the only statutory body to issue
such documents had made it clear that AbdulRazak’s credential had
emanated from it.

He said that the witness presented by the petitioner,
Olorunshola Victor, WAEC senior examination officer in Ilorin
office, presented the subpoena documents, confirming the
authenticity of the WAEC certificate of AbdulRazak.

“Victor told the tribunal that he was standing in for the first
witness, Waheed Amode, who could not appear in court because of an
unaffordable official meeting he had in Abuja

“He confirmed that the governor sat for his West Africa School
Certificate (WASC) examination in 1976 at the Government College,
Kaduna,” Effiong said.

The chairman said that the second respondent also presented a
witness, who confirmed the authenticity of the WAEC certificate
belonging to AbdulRazak.

“The witness, Mohammed Yaro told the court that he was graduated
from Government College, Kaduna, in 1976 with AbdulRazak and they
both sat for the WAEC examination.

“The witness said that, the governor’s serial number in WAEC was
119, while his was 122,” Effiong said.

The chairman said that all documents submitted by the
respondents were not forged, as the documents were applicable to
the election and the subsequent elections to come.

“The respondent was qualified to contest as at the time of the
election and has won the election, having polled majority of the
votes,” Effiong said. (NAN)