Court Cases On Buhari Certificate Controversy Reaches 10

The number of cases filed against the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over alleged non-submission of his academic certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, has risen to at least 10.
Our correspondent confirmed 10 of the cases on Wednesday though more suits might have been filed.

Eight of the 10 confirmed suits are before the Federal High Court in Abuja, one before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja and one other before the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State.

The one before the Chief Magistrate’s Court, a direct criminal complaint, is seeking the trial of Buhari for alleged perjury for making a false claim on oath of possessing academic qualifications.

The suit, before Chief Magistrate Abubakar Babashani of the FCT Magistrate Court, wants Buhari “to be brought to book” for allegedly claiming on oath that he had a certificate he did not obtain.”

The four complainants are Shield Ufot, Jimmy David, Ogueri Enwerem and Tochukwu Okorie.

Ufot said on Wednesday that the suit was filed on behalf of the Niger Delta Salvation Front.

In their suit, the complainants claimed that Buhari, “with intent to mislead a public officer as to compliance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010 deposed to various affidavits in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, wherein he stated that he attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School, Katsina State and obtained a West African School Certificate and that the certificates he claimed to have obtained are with the Nigerian Army.”

“That the Nigerian Army, in whose custody Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) claim the certificates are, issued a statement and denied being in possession of the school certificates,” the plaintiffs added.

But the plaintiffs in the nine other suits are seeking court order disqualifying the opposition presidential candidate in the March 28 poll.

The cases before the Federal High Court in Abuja are seeking the disqualification of Buhari as a presidential candidate.

The cases are: FHC/ABJ/CS/116/15 (between Hon Donald Daunemigha v. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari); FHC/ABJ/CS/13/15 (Hon. Sergin Onuka Ibe v. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari); FHC/ABJ/CS/01/15 (Mr. Chukwunweike Okafor vs Buhari and two others); and FHC/ABJ/CS/14/15 (Barr. Max Ozoka v. Buhari and two others).

They also include FHC/ABJ/CS/3/15 (Barr. Friday Ojealaro V. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and two others; FHC/ABJ/CS/20/15 (Barr. Friday Ojealaro V. Buhari and three others) and FHC/ABJ/CS/68/15 (Ayakeme Whiskey vs INEC and another).

The above mentioned cases are before Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

Another case before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking Buhari’s disqualification was filed on February 10, 2015 by Presidential View and Endorsement Platform and Barr. Smart Iheazor (FHC/ABJ/CS/1040/15). The defendants in the suit are Buhari and INEC.

The one before the Federal High Court in Umuahia was filed by Selekaye Victor Ben against Buhari and the Nigerian Army. The suit is numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/114/2015.