An alleged perjury suit instituted against the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, before the Federal High Court in Abuja has been fixed for Wednesday, November 16, 2020, for hearing.
The Presiding judge Justice Ahmed Mohammed fixed the date following a request by the counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN).
The plaintiffs — the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Edobor Williams — had dragged Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over alleged perjury.
In the suit marked FHC/B/CS/74/2020, the plaintiffs specifically prayed the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki from contesting the September 19 governorship election in Edo State on the grounds that he supplied false information on oath to INEC, an act said to be contrary to Section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010.
The suit, which was filed on July 14, 2020, at the Benin Division of the Federal High Court, suffered some setback before it was set down for hearing Wednesday by Justice Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
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He subsequently adjourned the matter to November 16, 17, and 18 for the APC to open and close its case, while Obaseki would do suit accordingly thereafter.
The plaintiffs in the writ of summons specifically accused the governor of forging his university certificate presented to INEC in aid of his qualification for the governorship election in Edo State.
They also claimed that there are discrepancies in the subject Obaseki claimed he passed in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam and that in his testimonial.
The plaintiffs also urged the court to declare that the PDP, “having sponsored a candidate, who supplied false information on oath and presented false/forged certificates to INEC, is not entitled to participate in the election scheduled for September 19 or on any other date that may be appointed for the purpose”.
They, therefore, prayed the court for an order disqualifying Obaseki and the PDP from the September 19 governorship election as well as an order directing INEC to remove the name of the PDP and its candidate from the ballot paper or election records or materials.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
