ENUGU, Nigeria – The Labour Party, LP, on Friday, July 7, 2023, continued its legal campaign against Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, presenting evidence of alleged certificate forgery to the Election Tribunal.
The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, acted as the LP’s first witness in support of the charges.
The LP and its candidate, Barr Chijioke Edeoga, have accused Governor Mbah of using a forged NYSC discharge certificate in his election campaign.
The LP brought Aliyu Abdul Mohammed, Director of Certification for the NYSC, as its first witness.
Mohammed presented several documents, including the alleged forged discharge certificate and what he claimed was the authentic version.
Respondents to the petition, including the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Governor Mbah, objected to the admissibility of the documents.
They argued the lack of competence of the written deposition on oath of the NYSC official, citing precedents in the Court of Appeal decisions in the cases of ANDP & Anor V INEC and Damina & Anor V Adamu and ors.
However, the petitioners’ counsel countered these arguments, citing the conflicting decision in the case of Ararume & Anor V INEC and asking the court to admit the written deposition.
The tribunal admitted the document and reserved ruling on the objections raised by the respondents for the final judgement.
The subpoena served on the NYSC and Mohammed’s official identity card were also admitted into evidence.
Mohammed also presented what he claimed were the authentic and false discharge certificates of the governor, which were admitted as evidence despite objections from the respondents.
Another witness, Mary Nneoma Elijah, a principal partner in the law firm of Oma and Partners, testified on behalf of the petitioners.
Her written deposition on oath was admitted into evidence, despite the respondents’ objections.
Her correspondence with INEC, as well as a response from the election commission, was also admitted.
In addition, a letter requesting the production of an appointment letter that appointed Governor Mbah as the Chief of Staff to the then governor of Enugu state, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani in the same year he claimed he was serving, was admitted in evidence.
The tribunal has adjourned the case until Tuesday, July 11, 2023, for further hearings.
