Buhari Certificate Saga: Tension In APC Over Court Case

There is tension in the opposition All Progressives Congress as a
Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Abdu Kafarati,
has given an order for accelerated hearing in a suit brought by a
non-governmental organisation, Global Center for Conscious Living
Against Corruption, asking for an order of mandamus to compel the
Inspector General of Police to investigate allegations of forgery and
perjury against the party's presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu
Buhari.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/172/2015, filed by Professor Andrew
Chukwuemerie, SAN, the plaintiffs are seeking the order of the court
to order police investigation into the "alleged acquisition and
possession of the West African School Certificate by Gen. Muhammad
Buhari at Provincial Secondary School, Katsina in view of
non-production of the said School Certificate of certified true copy
thereof".

The court originating summons, supported by a 31-paragraph affidavit,
sworn to by Joy Odoh, averred that the Inspector-General of Police has
an obligation under the Nigerian Constitution to investigate
allegations of forgery and lying on oath made against the APC
presidential candidate and that the police had refused to do so
despite repeated demands.

One of the exhibits attached to the originating summons by the
plaintiff is a copy of a letter written by the Test Department of the
National Office of the West African Examinations Council in Ghana
which states that Buhari's name and records were not in its
examinations archive thus suggesting that he was never a candidate for
the examination set by the body.

The plaintiffs contended that Buhari lied on oath and ought to be
tried for perjury when he declared in an affidavit submitted to the
Independent Electoral Commission that his Secondary School Certificate
was with the Military Board, a claim denied by the Board.

The group said the allegations of forgery and perjury were too weighty
to be ignored by the police "which has a constitutional duty to
investigate all allegations bordering on crime in the interest of
justice and that all efforts made to make the police perform its
duties have proved futile".

Meanwhile, subsequent upon an application by the plaintiffs counsel,
the court gave an order for accelerated hearing and directed the
Inspector-General of Police to enter his defence within seven days.

The plaintiffs are also asking the court to determine whether by
virtue of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act,
the Inspector General of Police is not duty bound to investigate the
allegations especially when the APC candidate has not submitted either
an original copy or a certified true copy of his secondary school
certificate to INEC as required by law.
--Vanguard