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Certificate Saga: Professors Tender Exhibits Against Gov Obaseki In Court

Published

5 years ago

January 5, 2021

Two University Professors, Emmanuel Dele Balogun and Maikano Asekomhe have testified against the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The Professors tendered exhibits, which include their original Degree Certificates to court.

Obaseki is in court defending an alleged certificate forgery suit instituted against him by his former political party, the All Progressives Congress APC.

The Professors, who graduated at the University of Ibadan along with the Governor, submitted the certificates for the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to compare and contrast in order to arrive at a just conclusion in the suit.

While Balogun graduated from the Agricultural Economics Department in 1979, the same year Obaseki claimed to have also graduated, Asekomhe graduated studied Banking and Finance in the same school and graduated in 1978.

The duo, who were led in evidence by the lawyer to the APC, Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, also faulted the entry qualifications of three credits in Ordinary Level WAEC and two credits in Advanced Level allegedly used by the Governor to gain direct entry admission to the University in 1976.

They said that such lower qualifications were never accepted by the institution for direct entry for admission.

The Professors, however, stunned the law court when they said that they have never seen the Governor’s certificate in their life.

While under cross examination by Chief Ken Mozia SAN, the Professors also said that they were not competent in law to make comments on the certificate they have never seen.

They said that their evidence were based on the photocopy of documents made available to them by the APC, and further admitted that they have never worked at the admission department of the University of Ibadan.

Obaseki will on Tuesday (today) open his defense at the court.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed on Monday adjourned hearing in the suit to Tuesday.

Recall that Governor Obaseki, prior to his second term election, had dumped the APC after the party disqualified him from running in its primary election, citing certificate forgery.

The Governor then decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he contested and won the election defeating APC’s Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

(DAILY POST)

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JUST IN: Tinubu Reverses Maryam Sanda’s Pardon, Convict To Spend Six Years In Jail

Published

2 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

After backlash for granting a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, President Bola Tinubu has revoked the pardon and reversed her sentence to 12 years.

This was revealed in an official gazette released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.

According to the gazette, Sanda, who had already spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, got the new approved term on compassionate grounds.

Details later…

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JUST IN: Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Reviews Pardon For Kidnapping, Drug-related Offences

Published

3 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a review of the presidential pardon granted to at least 175 persons at the National Council of State meeting on October 9, 2025, following nationwide outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences.

In a statement on Wednesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc., were deleted from the list.”

Onanuga added, “Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.”

Details shortly…

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JUST IN: Senate Clears Oluyede As Chief Of Defence Staff

Published

4 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Chief of Defence Staff-designate, General Olufemi Oluyede, as it began the screening of the newly appointed service chiefs at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Oluyede was confirmed barely an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the complex amid tight security.

Welcoming the nominees to the chamber, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the screening as a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring that only the most competent and patriotic officers are entrusted with safeguarding the nation.

Akpabio said, “Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On behalf of the entire Senate, “I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service you have rendered to our great nation.”

He further explained that the exercise was part of the Senate’s oversight responsibility to guarantee discipline and professionalism within the armed forces, adding that the chamber looked forward to a constructive interaction that would strengthen Nigeria’s security system.

The Senate President added, “Today’s exercise is in keeping with our constitutional duty to provide oversight and ensure that only the most competent, patriotic, and disciplined officers are entrusted with the task of safeguarding our national security and territorial integrity.”

Leading the delegation, Oluyede arrived at the National Assembly complex around 10 a.m. alongside other senior officers. The nominees are being screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Akpabio, before formal confirmation.

Their appearance follows a letter from President Tinubu, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary, urging the Red Chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominations.

The President listed the nominees as General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waheedi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye (Chief of Defence Intelligence).

The screening comes just a week after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa — his first official engagement with the military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping shake-up in the armed forces.

According to the Presidency, the appointments form part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the national security architecture and improve coordination among the military and intelligence agencies.

Tinubu had also lauded the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership” and urged their successors to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, unity, and vigilance within the Armed Forces.