Rivers Guber: We Won’t Disqualify Wike, Court Rules

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed a request that it disqualify Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State from participating in Saturday’s governorship election.

One Mr. Elvis Chinda had approached the court, praying that it disqualifies Wike from the election over forged documents he allegedly tendered to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In the suit marked FHC / ABJ /CS /1430/2019, the plaintiff, told the court that the certificate titled “Statutory Declaration of Age”, attached to Wike’s Form C.F.001, and purportedly deposed to on October 3, 1986, by one Collins Nyeme Wike had claimed that Nyesom Wike at the time of deposition, was a native of Rumuepirikom in Obio / Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State According to the Plaintiff.

“As at 3rd October 1986, there was no local Government Area known as Obio /Akpor Local Government Area in existence in Rivers State.

“As at 1986, Rumuepirikom was not in Obio /Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State , but in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State being the parent LGA from where Obio /Akpor Local Government Area was carved out.

“That the certificate of birth (Statutory Declaration of Age) was purported sworn to and issued at the High/Magistrate’s Court Registry, Port Harcourt but allegedly bears stamp of the Judiciary Probate Registry ,Port Harcourt.

“There was no Court Registry, whether in 1986 or afterward known as High/Magistrate Court Registry Port Harcourt. No such Registry existed or exists any where in Port Harcourt or Rivers State”.

The Plaintiff further alleged that Wike presented the bogus birth certificate to maintain consistency and coverup falsehood and lies, which he started in 1998.

According to him, it “began in 1989, when Wike expressed desire to contest for the local chairmanship of Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area Council election in Rivers State which INEC had fixed 35 years age for eligibility.

“Wike was 30 years of age then and ineligible for that election. In order to qualify for that election, he forged the Certificate of birth now in contention. He has used it in subsequent elections.”

He said INEC “is not in a position legally to disqualify Wike from contesting the governorship election except the court gave an order disqualifying him for the breach of Section 182 (1) (j) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

However, the court in its ruling delivered by Justice Iyang Ekwo, dismissed the suit.

The court ruled that the plaintiff failed to prove the allegation beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Ekwo said, “In our statutes, forgery is a criminal act. It entails the fraudulently making of a forged documents. It is a criminal offence. The onus is on the plaintiff to establish ingredients of the allegation with credible and convincing evidence.

“I find that the plaintiff has not proved allegations against the 1st defendant beyond every reasonable doubt or at all”, the court held.