Perjury Case: Plans To Stop Gov. Wike For March 9th, 2019 Governorship Election Thickens

Emeka Amaefula

Friday 8th of March, 2019 holds much for the sitting Governor of Rivers state, Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike as the Federal High Court sitting at Federal Capital Territory-FCT Abuja has fixed Friday 8th of March, 2019 for judgement in the case of Birth certificate forgery by Governor Wike of Rivers state.

Before now, one Elvis Chinda had approached a Federal High Court at FCT to stop Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike in contesting the 2019 Governorship election as he allegedly lied under oath that he was born on 13th of March, 1963 instead of 13th December, 1967 which he had been alluding as his statutory year of Birth.

The plaintiff council Achinike William Wobodo had asked the Court to grant the relief  prayed by his client-Elvis Chinda  determine whether the birth certificate attached C. F. 001 presented to Independent Electoral Commission was forged. He further prayed the court to grant relief sought by his client saying  “because a document that lied against itself is forged”

www.towncrier.ng gathered that, the counsel stated that as at 1986 when the controversial birth statutory certificate was obtained, Obio/Akpor  Local Government Council was not in existence as a Local Government Area under the Nigeria constitution as the Obio/Akpor LGA was created in 1989 under the then military President General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida – by Decree No. 12 of 1989 three years after the alleged was committed.

The plaintiff insisted that Governor Wike had always kept the forged document as his official certificate of birth having presented it to INEC in 1989.

The petitioner maintain that he obtained  the documents from INEC about 7-days before he filled the court papers thereby refuting that the court process is statute barred.

However, Barrister Wale Ajayi counsel to INEC did not respond to the plaintiff originating summon during the last court hearing but in its place filed for preliminary objection thereby challenging the jurisdiction of the court in entertaining the matter before it. Mr. Wale Ajayi concluded that the court should dismiss the suit as it lacks jurisdiction. 

Counsel to Rivers state Governor, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN)also prayed the court not to continue with the case as it should be dismissed. Arguing that the suit is statute barred having been filed outside the 14 -days allowed by the fourth alteration to the 1999 Nigerian constitution. He said that the deponent was not joined in the suit as he was the one who signed the statutory declaration of Age now birth certificate for Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in 1986. 

Continuing Justice Ekwo having listened to all the counsels to the matter adjoined the suit for delivery of judgement to March 8th, 2019. 

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Currently the Rivers state Governor, has surreptitiously approached some opinion leaders in Ikwerre land to plead to plaintiff  Elvis Chinda to allow him run for this 2019 governorship election without hindrance as any judgement passed on him on Friday 8th of March, 2019 will affect the voters reaction on the balloting day being Saturday 9th of March, 2019.