By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
THE National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Makurdi has rejected a document (gazette) sought to be tendered by Austine Asema Achado of the All Progressives Congress, APC to cure the discrepancies in the names on the certificates he submitted to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Achado who is the member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State is being challenged at the election petition tribunal on alleged forgery with his certificates bearing different names from secondary school certificate to Master of Science degree.
When the matter resumed for continuation of hearing, Achado while being led in evidence by counsel to the APC, Innocent Daagba, moved to tender the gazette but Kenneth Ikonne, who is the counsel to the petitioner, Emmanuel Ukaa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, objected to the tendering of gazette on the grounds that it was not front loaded.
Ikonne cited relevant sections of the Electoral Act and Evidence Act to support his argument that as respondents, they ought to have front loaded all documents that they will be relying on during hearing.
Daagba however countered Ikonne’s argument that a gazette is a law and can be tendered without front loading.
Ikonne in his counter argument faulted the submission of Daagba and urged the court to dismiss the argument of the APC counsel.
Ruling on the objection, the three member election petition tribunal led by Justice Amina Aliyu agreed with the objection raised by Ikonne and rejected the application to tender the gazette.
Answering questions from Ukaa’s counsel, Achado while trying to explain the discrepancies in the names on his secondary school certificate, Interim Joint Matriculation Board, IJMB, certificate, and MSc he tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, informed the court that at some various times, he was known as Achado Alfred Augustine, Austin Alfred Achado, Achado Austine Asema, adding that Austin is his baptism name, while Alfred is his confirmation name.
He further told the court that Augustine and Austin are same.
Documents before the tribunal indicate that, the West African Examination School Certificate, WAEC, submitted by Achado in his INEC form EC-9 bears Achado Alfred Augustine.
His IJMB, bears Achado Augustine Alfred, while the MSc bears Austin Alfred Achado.
He didn’t state or attach his primary school certificate or first degree certificate in his INEC form EC-9.
Also, his certificate of state of origin bears Achado Asema Austine, while his declaration of age bears Austin Asema Achado, same with his INEC form EC-9.
Furthermore, the deed poll deposed to by Achado, dated September 30th, 2022, and filed before the tribunal, the House of Representatives member stated that sometimes on March 7th, 2001, he swore to an affidavit and changed his name from Augustine Alfred Achado to Austin Alfred Achado.
The matter has been adjourned to July 11, 2023 for adoption of final written address.
