From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.
A Federal High Court sitting in Minna, the Niger State capital has dismissed a case of certificate forgery against the Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello filled on January 11, 2019.
The court upheld the objection that the People Democratic Party, PDP, has failed to establish that the governor of Niger state allegedly presented forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The PDP had approached the court that the governor and the deputy governorship candidate of APC have presented some forged documents to INEC.
Hon. Justice Amina B. Aliyu who presided over the case upheld the objections of the defendants that the suit having being filed outside 14 days runs fowl to Section 285 (9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The court further held that the plaintiff has failed to establish that Governor Bello presented forged certificate to INEC as the sole witness called by PDP was demolished under cross examination by the defendant’s counsel.
In conclusion, the court held that the plaintiff’s case is devoid of merit, dismissed same and awarded cost of N500,000 to the 1st and 2nd defendants. expressing their views, Counsel to the Governor, Mr J.S Okutepa SAN stated that the case against his client is nothing;
He noted that, the case was without substance but meant for political amusement stating that from on-set, the plaintiff set out on a mission that is nothing .
In his part, Counsel to APC, Yunus Ustaz Usman SAN stated that the he is satisfied with the judgment and noted that the case was bound to fail on all sides. While Counsel to INEC, Johnson Jacob Usman stated that he is satisfied with the judgment as the judgment was sound and in line with the state of the law in all aspect.
He finally concluded by saying that the plaintiff having withdrawn all his reliefs apart from the omnibous reliefs, the court was very magnanimous and over diligence in considering those reliefs. counsel to the plaintiff, Aliyu Lemu who said he was dissatisfied with the judgment because the Judge erred in law, indicated his interest to appeal against the judgment.
