By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
There was another mild drama at the National and State House of Assemblies Election Petition Tribunal as the deputy speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Danladi Lami on Saturday, contradicted her statement in defence of alleged certificate forgery.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and it’s candidate in the 2023 Ado State Constituency election of Benue State, Hon. Uloko Agnes are challenging the election of Hon. Lami on the ground that, she presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in her form EC9 (Affidavit of personal particulars).
In the petition marked EPT/BN/SHA/3/2023, the petitioners averred that Hon Lami presented a forged certificate to INEC in her form EC9, wherein she certified under oath that she secured a First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC and Senior School Certificate, SSCE, in 1998 and 2004 respectively whereas she did not secure FSLC and SSCE in those years.
The petitioners allege that contrary to the express requirement of paragraph ‘C’ of Form EC9, the Deputy Speaker did not state the name of the schools she purportedly obtained the said qualifications used in contesting the 2023 State House of Assembly Election for Ado State Constituency.
The petitioners alleged that the information given by the Deputy Speaker to INEC in form EC9 wherein she said she obtained FSLC from ‘Army Children’ and SSCE from ‘GGDSS’ is false.
The PDP and Hon Agnes alleged that, contrary to the certification under oath by Hon Lami that she is a member of the APC with membership No. BN/GMU/01/04301, the deputy speaker is not a member of the APC as the membership registration form/slip attached to the said form EC9 is that of Ogenyi Ladi Danladi with membership number BN/GMU/04301 and not that of the deputy speaker.
The petitioners further stated that the exclusion of “Ogenyi” and “Ladi” in Form EC-9 and the inclusion of same in the membership registration form attached to the said Form EC-9 is conclusive proof that the said documents are in respect of different persons.
The petitioners are seeking a declaration voiding the election of Hon. Danladi Lami and declaring Hon. Uloko Agnes as the winner of the election, amongst other reliefs.
While adopting her statement and tendering documents, Hon. Lami tendered a deed poll dated 10th May, 2022 which changed her name from Ogenyi Danladi Lami to Danladi Lami.
Under cross examination from counsel to the petitioners, Orseer Agena, Hon Lami was asked why she didn’t fill the column for former names in her form EC9, the deputy speaker said she does not have a former name but only her present names.
Also asked if the name ‘Ogenyi’ is on the SSCE Certificate she tendered before the court, Lami responded that the name was not on the certificate.
When asked to confirm if the deed-poll she tendered was registered with the Nigerian Civil Registry, Hon Lami confirmed to the tribunal that the deed poll was not registered.
Hon. Lami who tendered an SSCE certificate issued by the Ministry of Education, Zamfara State, confirmed to the tribunal while under cross examination that, certificates are issued by the examination body and schools where such examinations are written.
Justice Ori thereafter adjourned the matter to August 3, 2023 for adoption of final written address.
