From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Makurdi, Benue State, has rejected a document (gazette), which Austine Asema Achado sought to tender to cure the discrepancies in the names on the certificates he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Achado of the All Progressives Congress, APC, 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 the 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 frontloaded all documents that they would 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 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 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 degree certificate in his INEC form EC-9.
Also, his certificate of state of origin bears Achado Asema Austine, while his declaration of age is bearing Austin Asema Achado, same with his INEC form EC-9.
Not only that, 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 was adjourned to July 11, 2023 for adoption of final written address.