NECO forgery: Complainant Uzoh under pressure to apologise to Senator Ubah
Strong indications emerged Monday evening that the complainant Anambra State billionaire and PDP Senatorial candidate in the February 23, 2019 senatorial election, Dr Obinna Uzoh is under pressure to tell the lawmaker, Nigerian businessman, entrepreneur and currently the Senator, representing Anambra South at the Nigerian senate and CEO of Capital Oil that ‘I am sorry’.
This followed not only the authentication of the suspected 2003 SSCE results of Senator Ifeanyi Patrick by National Examination Council (NECO) as correct, but the tendering and admittance of the document before the trial judge today in Abuja.
Business Hilights South East Bureau Chief recalls that a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in the Bwari area of Abuja, had on Friday, January 17, 2020, reaffirmed its earlier order, which sacked Ifeanyi Ubah as the senator representing Anambra South based on a suit filed by Dr Uzoh claiming that the said NECO results was forged.
In his ruling, Justice Bello Kawu declined Ubah’s request to set aside the earlier order issued in a judgment delivered by the court on April 11, 2019.
The court had ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to Dr. Obinna Uzoh of the PDP, following Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s sack and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ubah and gave Dr Obinna a fresh certificate of return in place.
However, following the court’s initial ruling, Ubah subsequently filed an application before the court, praying for an order setting aside the judgment on the ground that he was not served with the court processes or the hearing notice, throughout the proceedings leading to the judgment.
Justice Kawu had on December 4, granted an order of stay of execution, restraining the Senate President from swearing in Uzoh, pending the hearing and determination of Ubah’s application.
The judge also ordered all parties to the suit, including the electoral commission to maintain status quo in the meantime.
While Justice Kawu dismissed Ubah’s application for lacking in merit, he also struck out a motion another claimant to the PDP senatorial ticket, Chief Chris Uba filed, to be joined as an interested party in the substantive suit.
However, with the clear authentication of the result as correct and issued originally from NECO, Senator Ubah at the next hearing date will tender the letter from NECO to secure a lasting justice and may institute a multibillion naira suit against Dr Uzoh for defamation of character.
Ubah had secured an order restraining the Senate and INEC from either swearing in Dr Uzoh or issuing certificate of return him ahead of the NECO authentication letter emerged.
Observers say with the authentication of the original results by NECO, it would be difficult for the plaintiff, Dr Obinna Uzoh to prove beyond reasonable doubt why he should not be made to not only pay damages to the federal lawmaker, but head towards a correctional centre.
See NECO Letter of Authentication
