EDO: Obaseki starts defence over alleged certificate forgery

GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki was expected to begin his defence today (Tuesday) before a Federal High Court in Abuja in the alleged certificate forgery case brought against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Edobor Williams (a member of the party).

According to the allegation, Governor Obaseki forged his first degree certificate; which he claimed to have obtained from the University of Ibadan, and had submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of his educational qualification.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and INEC are the other defendants in the suit.

Lead lawyer of the plaintiffs, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), announced the closure of his clients’ case at around 6pm on Monday after calling a total of six witnesses, following which Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned till 10 on Tuesday for the first defendant, Governor Obaseki, to open his defence.

The witnesses called by the plaintiffs includes two Associate Professors, who said they graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1978 and 1979.

As the proceedings commenced on Monday, the defendants continued their cross-examination of the fourth plaintiffs’ witness, Raphael Onwuzuligbo, a retired Police officer and a Forensic Document Examiner.

The lawyers to Obaseki and the PDP – Ken Mozia (SAN) and Razak Isenalumhe, cross-examined Onwuzuligbo, during which the witness told the court how he was engaged by an individual he chose to describe as a faithful steward to examine some documents relating to Obaseki’s certificate, which is now being contested.