A former governor of Benue state and Senator representing Benue
North-West Senatorial District of Benue state, George Akume has been
dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery of
his West African Examination Council WAEC certificate.
The plaintiff, Phillip Agbese through counsel, Amobi Nzelu is praying
for a declaration that Akume did not possess the certificate number SCO
39633 allegedly issued to him by Government Secondary School Oturkpo,
Benue State in 1971.
Joined in the suit are WAEC, the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Inspector General of Police and the National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) as 2nd to 5th defendants.
Agbese, an indigene of Benue state and a civil rights activist residing
in Abuja, also asked the court to declare that the result allegedly
issued to Akume by WAEC did not belong to him and that the defendant did
not obtain any degree from the University of Ibadan or any recognised
university in Nigeria.
The plaintiff also asked the court to declare that whatever documents
that were presented to INEC by Akume consequent upon which he was
cleared to contest the gubernatorial election in Benue state especially
the West African Certificate No SCO 39633 and the University of Ibadan
certificate and NYSC discharge certificate No. 043655 were false.
He also wanted a declaration that the senatorial seat of Benue
North-West senatorial district of Benue state being occupied by Akume
was vacant having not possessed the requisite qualification to contest
for the said position.
He therefore asked the court for an order directing WAEC to produce the
duplicate copy or certified true copy of the certificate No. SCO 39633
allegedly issued to Akume.
He also prayed the court to order NYSC to produce the certified true
copy of certificate No. 043655 issued to Akume and to declare vacant,
the senatorial seat of Benue North-West senatorial district of Benue
state currently being occupied by him.
Agbese also asked the court for an injunction restraining Akume from
parading himself as a senator representing Benue North- West senatorial
district of Benue State.
In a 24- paragraph affidavit deposed to by the plaintiff, he averred
that the document submitted to INEC by Akume for clearance for the
senatorial election were not made known to the public as required by law
to enable people raise claims and objections.
He also averred that the documents submitted to INEC by Akume
consequent upon which he was cleared to contest the election were fake
and forged.
Furthermore, he averred that in 2002, an extract was given by the
police stating the loss of certain documents by Akume and advising him
to go to the place of issuance for replacement and that after eight
years of the issuance of the said police extract to the 1st defendant,
he swore to an affidavit on September 23,2011 alleging in the said
affidavit the missing documents with numbers.
He also averred that both the police extract and affidavit were
procured by the 1st defendant as a cover up as he did not possess those
certificates mentioned in both the police extract and the affidavit.
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