Certificate scandals: Buhari in-law asks court to disqualify Gov Bindow from 2019 polls

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

The legal battle by President Muhammadu Buhari’s in-law, Dr Halilu Modi to disqualify Adamawa State Governor, Muhammadu Jibirilla Bindow as a governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has resurfaced at the Federal High Court Abuja division before Justice Ahmed Mohammed. Dr. Mode who was the first runner up in the disputed APC governorship primaries is challenging the academic credentials of the incumbent governor Bindow. The suit which was first filed in Abuja division was transferred to the Yola division of the Federal High Court before Justice Abdulaziz Anka sent the case file back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati for re- assignment to another Judge. He took the decision after he had announced his withdrawal from adjudicating on the matter on personal grounds. Specifically, the suit is seeking the disqualification of governor Bindow from contesting the forth coming governorship election in the state on the grounds that he did not complete his secondary education at the Government Secondary School, Mangu, Plateau State, as claimed. Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs is an order compelling the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to produce the result of the Governor. Apart from Governor Bindow, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), West African Examination Council (WAEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are also joined as defendants. Besides, Governor Bindow was alleged to have forged his Secondary school certificate, prompting a rights group, Global Crusade Integrity Network (GICN) to file a case before an Abuja division of the Federal High Court in September last year claiming that the governor was using a forged certificate. Before hearing the case yesterday, Justice Mohammed had warned parties to the suit against actions that are capable of dragging the integrity of the court into the mud. His warning was against the backdrop of the fact that parties in the suit are engaged in name dropping and making comments that they have the Judge on their side. Justice Mohammed who frowned at what he referred to as “unfortunate development” consequently threatened to send the case file to the Chief Judge for re- assignment to another Judge. He therefore sought the lawyers’ opinions on his thoughts. But counsel to governor Bindow, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) rose to his feet condemning the development. He expressed his client confidence on the court and urged Justice Mohammed to proceed with the case. Counsel to the plaintiff, Obong Akpan as well as that of the APC, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN); Taminu Inuwa (SAN) and others all joined in expressing their confidence on the court to proceed with the case. However, an application by the Registered Trustees for Centre for Reform and Advocacy seeking to be joined in the proceeding as a co- defendant and other pending applications stalled the hearing of the case. The application for joinder was filed by Kalu Onuoha on behalf of the group. Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to February 4 at the instance of counsel to APC, Bawa as well as counsel to the applicants seeking to be joined, Onuoha who prayed for time to file their respective responses to the counter affidavit of the plaintiff’s counsel. The plaintiff’s counsel had while opposing the application for adjournment urged the court to take into consideration the nature of the case which he said was time bound.