PDP and NNPP lawmakers lead the pack, advocates seek prosecution of forgers
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Certificate forgery allegations have again featured prominently at tribunals adjudicating election petitions North and South in 2023, a recurring decimal since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.
The dust was kicked off that year by two very prominent certificate forgery allegations – one against former House of Representatives Speaker Salisu Buhari, who later admitted to the crime, apologised, and resigned.
The second certificate forgery allegation around 1999 was against then-Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, which he denied, but which has dogged him up to his present job as President.
Not all the allegations in 2023 are proven cases of certificate forgery, as some were dismissed in court due to a lack of evidence, but a few proved fatal to the political positions of those accused.
Some members of the National Assembly (NASS) have been sacked by tribunals this year over forged or missing certificates, even though the last is yet to be heard as appeals are in the offing.
National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals across the country have upturned the elections of 25 House of Representatives members and five Senators.
So far, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost 12 House members, the Labour Party (LP) 10, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) three, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) one.
Not all the nullified elections were based on certificate forgery.
However, tribunals have ruled two PDP and two NNPP federal lawmakers forged the certificates they submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as collated below by Daily Post.
Idris Dankawu (Kano NNPP)
The tribunal sacked Idris Dankawu of the NNPP for forging the West African School Certificate (WAEC) certificate he submitted for election into the Kumbotso Federal House of Representatives Constituency of Kano.
Munir Danagudi of the APC, who contested against Dankawu, levelled the charge he presented a forged secondary school certificate to gain admission into Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Kaduna.
The tribunal agreed and declared “Idris Dankawu of NNPP forged his WAEC certificate,” and voided his election.
The tribunal instructed the INEC to set aside the Certificate of Return (CoR) it gave to Dankawu and instead declare Danagudi winner and give him the CoR.
Muktar Yerima (Kano NNPP)
Muktar Yerima’s election was pronounced invalid because he forged the primary school certificate he submitted to the INEC.
Hafizu Kawu of the APC challenged Yerima’s eligibility and presented evidence of the forgery, which the tribunal upheld.
The court ruled that meant the NNPP had no candidate in the election and all the votes cast for Yerima were wasted votes.
The tribunal also ruled that Yerima’s defence he made a change of name in 2022 did not hold water having been using three names (Umar Mukhtar Zakari) on his passport since 2009 while his primary school certificate still bore Umar Mukhtar.
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Aminu Ahmadu Chindo (Katsina PDP)
The tribunal nullified the House of Representatives election declared to have been won by PDP candidate Aminu Chindo.
He was found to have forged his primary school certificate in a petition filed by Sani Aliyu of the APC.
Aliyu accused him of presenting a forged primary school testimonial bearing Kofar Soro Primary School, which he presented to the INEC.
The tribunal ruled the respondent failed to prove he attended the school.
Ismail Dalha (Katsina PDP)
The tribunal also quashed the return of Ismail Dalha of the PDP, the member representing Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency, for forging his primary school certificate.
The tribunal ordered the INEC to issue a CoR to Abubakar Yahya of the APC who came second in the election.
Certificate forgers should be prosecuted in court, says CRRAN
NNPP State Chairmen Forum spokesperson Dada Olabode reiterated it is a criminal act for anyone to forge a certificate and present it for the purpose of contesting an election or for gaining a position.
He urged the INEC to look at pertinent laws and do a proper clean up before candidates emerge from their political platforms.
“Basically, it is a criminal act for anyone to forge a certificate and present it for the purpose of contesting an election or for gaining a position, whether political or even in the private sector,” Olabode said.
‘‘However, since this is a political matter, I feel that we may not have seen the end of these allegations until all the avenues of rebuttal are explored and exhausted.
“In addition, I think it calls to question the due diligence that INEC conducts in certifying people as candidates of political parties.
“If INEC has been up and doing, these are the issues that would have been determined before people are confirmed candidates of political parties.
‘‘I urge the INEC to sit up and look at its laws and do a proper clean up before candidates emerge from their different political platforms.
“It will help the system a lot. It will save the judiciary from wasting time. It will also save the nation from this embarrassment.”
Olu Omotayo, President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), said it is a national embarrassment some supposed leaders are not setting a good example.
Omotayo, a lawyer, insisted the matter should not only end in nullification of their elections but those caught in forgery of any kind should be prosecuted in court.
His words: “It is unfortunate that certain decisions emanating from the election petitions tribunals in some states have nullified the elections of some members of the National Assembly due to forgery of school certificates.
“It’s a national embarrassment that some of the supposed leaders are not setting a good example for the youth of this country.
“I hope that the matter will not only end in nullification of their elections but the appropriate security agency will take up their criminal prosecution for forgery before a court of competent jurisdiction.”