In Akwa Ibom, PDP candidate drags Nse Ntuen to court for allegedly presenting fake certificate to INEC

Joe Effiong, Uyo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Essien Udim state constituency of Akwa Ibom State in the March 9 state House of Assembly election, Mr Nae Ntuen, has been dragged to court for allegedly presenting a fake academic qualification to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The claimant in the a case filed at the Federal High Court, Uyo, with suit number FHC/WY/C5/27/19, Esse Gerald Umoh, who is the PDP candidate for the same Essien Udim state constituency, is asking INEC to disqualify Ntuen for presenting a fake certificate in Social Work, which Ntuen said he obtained with Second Class Upper Division, at University of Calabar, whereas his name was listed among those graduating in the Second Class Lower Division in the convocation brochure in that year.

Ese Umoh said having submitted a false result to INEC, which was different from the one he obtained from the institution as listed in the convocation brochure, Ntuen, who is the factional speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, was not fit to contest the forthcoming general election.

The said brochure, filed as supporting evidence to back up the claims, has it that only five students graduated with Second Class Upper Division in Social Work in UNICAL of which Nse Ntuen was not among in that year.

The claimant told the court that UNICAL appeared to have issued two results in the same programme to Nse Ntuen:  one the 4 /11/13 with Reg. No.07/BSW-5/125 while another one was issued on the 25/5/15 with the same registration number but in different a grade category.

The claimant also drew the attention of the court to fact that based on Section 31 of the Electoral Act, submission of false information to INEC is an offence which penalty is disqualification.

The claimant is specifically asking the court to determine “whether Nse Effiong Ntuen, who has submitted a false degree certificate to INEC is not by the said act disqualified from contesting the 2019 general election.”

Listed as co-respondents in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC, which the court has fixed February 24, 2019 for hearing.