BREAKING: Court strikes out Certificate Forgery Suit Against Edo Governor, Obaseki

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a suit filed by Edobor Williams, Ugbesia Abudu Godwin and Amedu Dauda Anakhu challenging the validity and authenticity of Godwin Obaseki’s University certificate.

The plaintiffs, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/553/2020 accused the Governor of forging his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) certificate in Classics studies from the University of Ibadan.

They claimed the offence contravenes section 182(1)(i) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which therefore makes Obaseki “not qualified to run or seek the office of the governor of Edo State” in the forthcoming 2020 governorship election.

They prayed the court to among others, hold that Obaseki is “not qualified to run or seek election to the office of the governor of Edo State” in the forthcoming 2020 governorship election.

At the mention of the case on Monday, neither the plaintiffs nor their lawyers were in court. The defendant too was not represented.

In view of the development, Justice Anwuli Chiekere proceeded to strike out the suit.

Recall that The University of Ibadan (UI), the alma mater of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, had laid to rest the controversy over the governor’s certificate with a declaration that he attended the nation’s premier university and graduated in 1979.

UI, in a statement by its Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi O Faluyi, said Obaseki gained admission into the university in 1976 to study Classics and graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division.