The Sokoto State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, has admitted the original and certified true copies of the Primary School registers (Primary 5A and 6A) of the Deputy Governor, Idris Mohammed Gobir in evidence.
The Counsel to the 1st and 2nd respondents, Wole Olanipekun SAN and 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, Bashir Mu’azu Jodi, also the APC Legal Adviser, explained that, the school register of the Deputy Governor tendered before the election petition tribunal, was that of Primary 5A and 6A.
According to him, that was “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 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 either exist from any School in Sabon Birni Local Government or anywhere in Sokoto State.
During cross examination of the witness (Headmaster of Model Primary School Sabon Birni where the Deputy Governor attended attend) by the petitioners counsels, the counsel said, 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 nine 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 vindicated the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Idris Mohammed Gobir from the allegations of forgery of Primary School Certificate, and 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.ć
After heated debates between the lawyers of both parties, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Haruna Mshelia admitted both the Original and certified true copies of the said Primary School registers of the 2nd respondent (The Deputy Governor, 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.
The witness in person of Dr. Yakubu Maccido Ahmed an Assistant Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Sokoto State, tendered many documents, including 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.
At the end of 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.
The tribunal adjourned its sitting to the 26th of August, 2023 for all the parties file and to adopt their final written addresses.
