Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam is to open his defence at the Federal High Court, in Makurdi, today, on the allegation of certificate forgery? leveled against him by one Mr. Terver Kakih.
Kakih had contested for Benue governorship ticket with Governor Suswam in the? April, 2011 general election primaries on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He had challenged the candidature of Suswam in the PDP primaries for the? April 2011 general elections on the grounds of? massive rigging and non-qualification of the governor based on alleged Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificate forgery.
LEADERSHIP recalls that Mr. Kakih, who presented before the court, a month ago, photocopies of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) results of Governor Suswam of 1981 and 1982, also tendered Form CF 001, which he said were released to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but were all rejected by the Federal High Court on want of proper certification.
Lawyer to Governor Suswam Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), yesterday, filed a motion and prayed the court to allow him supply additional witnesses, one of whom he disclosed was the state secretary of the PDP, Hon. Bem Dzoho and that he would also tender results of the ward congresses held in the 23 local governments of the state in 2011.
But while ruling on the case, Justice Marcel Awokulehein who granted the application and ordered the presentation of additional witnesses and tendering of the? ward congresses results, further said that the defense would only last for three days and final judgment on the matter would be delivered forthwith.