Tribunal orders Enugu gov’s appearance over alleged certificate forgery

The Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday ordered Governor Peter Mbah to appear before it on Friday to testify on his alleged National Youth Service Corps discharged certificate forgery.

The order was a sequel to an application made by the Peoples Redemption Party, through its counsel, Mr Alex Amujiogo.

Mbah, who was declared winner of the March 18, governorship election in Enugu State by the Independent National Electoral Commission is facing a mounting challenge from the Labour Party candidate, Chijioke Edeoga and PRP candidate, Elder Christopher Agu over his alleged forgery of the National Youths Service Corps Discharge Certificate presented to the electoral umpire.

The PRP candidate, Agu like the LP candidate is seeking to upturn the declaration of Gov Mbah as the winner of the March 18 governorship election conducted in the State.

Agu in a petition filed before the Tribunal is claiming among others that Mbah was not qualified to contest the election, having allegedly forged an NYSC discharge certificate, among other issues.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the PRP’s counsel, Amujiogo told the tribunal that Mbah was supposed to be in court as a subpoenaed witness.

He, however, said from the affidavit deposed to by the bailiff of the Tribunal, it had been difficult to serve Mbah the summon.

Amujiogo then moved an application, urging the Tribunal to grant a substituted service of the summon on Mbah through his counsel.

Although the application was opposed by the three respondents, the INEC, Mbah as well as the Peoples Democratic Party, on the grounds that it was supposed to come by way of motion, supported by an affidavit during the pre-trial session.

However, they were overruled by the Tribunal.

Consequently, the Chairman of the Panel, Justice K. M. Akano ordered that the subpoena be served on Mbah through his counsel and that he should appear before the Tribunal tomorrow, June 23, 2023.

Meanwhile, the PRP governorship candidate had earlier during the session also testified before the Tribunal as PW2.

An official of the NYSC from the National Secretariat, Abuja, Mr Aliu Muhammed, who also appeared on behalf of the Director-General of the Corps, tendered an affidavit to the Tribunal, declaring that an order of a Federal High Abuja, was inhibiting them from tendering the disclaimer the Corps made against Mbah’s certificate.

Muhammed was in court following a subpoena on NYSC.

Meanwhile, the case filed by the Labour Party, governorship candidate, Mr Chijioke Edeoga also came up before the Tribunal.

The pending interlocutory application which was filed on May 16 over  Mbah’s alleged NYSC certificate forgery, was moved before the Tribunal.

Edoga is praying the tribunal disqualifies Mba, over the alleged forgery, an act that he claims, violates Section 182 (j) of the Nigerian Constitution.

During the resumed sitting of the Tribunal on Thursday, the Petitioners through their Counsel Mr M. J. Numa, moved their interlocutory application, after which the suit was adjourned for ruling on the application on Saturday, May 24, as well as a pre-trial report.