BY OKHIDE EM’YA DAVID
Hearing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged case of certificate forgery and perjury against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, has been adjourned at a Federal High Court, Abuja to November 16, 2020.
The court has 180days to hear the case and give its ruling.
The APC and one of its members, Edobor Williams, instituted the cases in July prior to the Edo governorship election on September 16, 2020.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to disqualify the governor and his deputy from participating in the election and to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from fielding any candidates in the election.
In two separate suits, the plaintiffs want the court to stop Obaseki and Shaibu from participating in the election for allegedly lying on oath and submitting false documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Foremost lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Akin Okujinmi leading other lawyers today in court agreed with counsel to Obaseki that the case be adjourned to the new date.
When the case came up for mention today, the defendant’s counsel, Ken Mozia, said they were just served, and that they were even preparing to challenge the process of the service.
But the judge said the day was to fix the matter for hearing. Olujinmi said, he has not even filed his objection to the service process and so there shouldn’t be any reason not to take a date for hearing.
The court has also fixed hearing of the case by the APC against Philip Shaibu, for Nov 30, and December 1, 2020, while, the defendant has 8th and 9th of December, to call witnesses.
