25th Oct. 2023.

The Court of Appeal Abuja delivered an interesting judgment on forgery this afternoon.

The Appellate Cout decided the appeals arising from the cases that involved the following persons: Hon. Aminu Ahmed Chindo of PDP vs. Hon. Sani Danlami Aliyu of APC where the later’s declaration as winner of Katsina Central Federal Constituency by the trial tribunal in Katsina State were consolidated on the strength that the former truly submitted a forged primary school testimonial.

Similarly, the Appeal Court also upheld the declaration of Hon. Abubakar Yahaya of APC by the trial tribunal in Katsina State for Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency against Hon. Ismail Dalha of PDP who was found guilty of submitting a forged primary school certificate to INEC.

Deciding the two cases today in Abuja on issue of forgery, the court emphasised that the best evidence is from the issuer of the document and that the testimony of the issuer is final in determination of forgery.

On frontloading of subpoenaed witnesses, the court held that the testimony of OFFICIAL witnesses cannot be frontloaded and should be accepted whenever they are subpoenaed to appear by the Court.

They distinguished Peter Obi case at the PEPT and said Peter Obi’s witnesses were his party members and he could have brought them without subpoena.

The Court of Appeal in open court alleged that people have been trying to bribe them to do injustice in the cases before them.

They said that they refused all bribe entreaties to do justice and warned politician who go about trying to bribe Judges for perversion of justice.

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