FCT Polls: Court Adjourns Forgery Case Against Bwari Council Chair

An Abuja Federal High Court yesterday adjourned a suit challenging the eligibility of the Chairman of Bwari Area Council of the FCT, John Shekwoghaza Gabaya, to contest in the forthcoming chairmanship elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) slated for February 12, 2022.

The suit, which was instituted by one Hassan Zakari, is challenging the primary school testimonial/certificate submitted by Gabaya, who is the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

When the matter came up for mention on Wednesday, counsel to the plaintiff, George Ibrahim, told the court that the credentials submitted by the first defendant were forged, and as such, citing Section 31 Sub-section 5 of the Electoral Act, affirmed his client’s right to challenge the false information submitted to INEC.

Barr Ibrahim told the court that his client became aware of the forged credentials on June 6, 2021, when INEC published the names of the candidates seeking to participate in the FCT council polls next year; hence the suit.

The counsel for the first and second defendants, who made reference to Section 284 Sub-section 14 of the constitution, said the plaintiff was neither an aspirant nor a political party and as such could not challenge the authenticity of the documents submitted to INEC since it was a pre-election matter.

The Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, after listening to both counsels, adjourned the suit to October 11.