By Muhammad Ibrhim, Sokoto
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto has admitted the original and certified true copies of the Primary School registers (primary 5A and Primary 6A) of the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Hon. Idris Muhammad Gobir which was tendered before it.
Counsel to the 1st and 2nd respondents, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN and Malam Yusuf O. Ali SAN, presented the said documents to the court against the previous one tendered by the Counsels of the petitioners.
One of the defence Counsels representing 3rd respondent, Barrister Bashir Mu’azu Jodi, APC legal Adviser Sokoto, explained that, the school registers of the Deputy Governor tendered before the election petition tribunal was that of primary 5A and Primary 6A and which was vehemently against the purported and concocted previous register tendered by the petitioners and that has no originality or existence in the name of the said school (Town Primary School, Sabon Birni).
He further added that, the original school registers tendered by the 1st and 2nd respondents has clearly exposed that, the school register tendered by the petitioners does not emanate neither exist from any School in Sabon Birni Local Government or anywhere in Sokoto State.
During the cross examination of the witness (Headmaster, of Model Primary School Sabon Birni where the Deputy Governor schooled) by the petitioners counsels, it has clearly exposed that the anomalies in the School register tendered by the petitioners showing an alteration from 1982 to 1986 from the face of the said register.
That the concocted register showed 9 sessions between 1986 to 1987 and same School class Teacher from 1982 to 1986.
Barrister Jodi said the evidence of the Headmaster was unshakable and has clearly vendicated the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Idris Mohammed Gobir from the allegations of forgery of Primary School certificate as such is genuine and showed the originality from model primary school Sabon Birni against the purported and concocted Town Primary School Sabon Birni Local Government which has no originality of existence from any school in Sabon Birni Local Government or anywhere in Sokoto State.
After heated debates between the lawyers of both parties, the Chairman of the Trbunal, Justice Haruna Mshelia admitted both the Original and certified true copies of the said Primary School registers of the 2nd respondent (The Deputy Governor, Hon. Idris Mohammed Gobir) in evidence and also marked it as exhibit.
Barrister Bashir Mu’azu Jodi said with this development, the attempt by the petitioners to discredit the documents tendered by the counsel to the 1st and 2nd respondents through the School Headmaster and his oral evidence had failed woefully.
Meanwhile, the star witness of the 1st and 2nd respondents (Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and Deputy Governor Idris Mohammed Gobir) which also the 3rd respondent (APC) relied upon has testified before the tribunal.
According to Bashar Abubakar the witness in person of Dr. Yakubu Maccido Ahmed, an Assistant Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Sokoto State has tendered many documents which included the Judgement of the Federal High Court, Sokoto Division where it held that the 1st respondent (Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto) is eminently qualified to contest the election that was held on the 18th of March 2023, and that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no locus standi to institute the action and the suit is statute barred.
Also at the trial, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents closed their defences before the tribunal relying on the evidence elicited and extracted from the witnesses of the petitioners during cross examination is enough and there is no need for the respondents to call any further witnesses, this means the testimony of the petitioners’ witnesses is so weak, waterless and can’t stand the test of evidence before the tribunal to enable them secure any of the reliefs sought.
At the end, tribunal adjourned its sitting to the 26th of August, 2023 for all the parties file and to adopt their final written addresses.
