Headlines
Certificate Forgery: Buhari’s CoS, Abba Kyari in Hot Soup
By Eric Elezuo
The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, and one his closest confidants, Mr. Abba Kyari, may be in for the greatest test of his career as a lawyer, Mr. Kalu Kalu Agu of Kalu and Kalu Associates has petitioned the Metropolitan Police, London, alleging that the President’s right hand presented a forged document and lied on oath while testifying on behalf of the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the just concluded Presidential Election Tribunal.
The man, who is regarded as the brain box of the Buhari administration, found himself on the other side of the law, when on July 30, 2019, while standing as a prime witness for Buhari and the APC, declared that he personally took delivery of a Cambridge Assessment International Education document issued in the name of Mohammed Buhari.
In the petition titled PETITION AGAINST MR. ABBA KYARI FOR FORGING CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DOCUMENT, and addressed to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mr. Agu requested the outfit to conduct an official investigation to determine the circumstance behind the procurement of the said document in the terms of source of procurement and other sundry matters.
In its opening paragraph, the petition noted thus;
“On the 30th of July, 2019, one Mr. Abba Kyari claimed to have procured from CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION in London and within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom a certifying statement , a ddocument of controversy, if not dubious origin for the sole purpose of deceiving the general public in the United Kingdom and Nigeria”
Faulting the process under which the document was procured, which the petitioner claimed nullified its authenticity, he further highlighted seven basic tips that supported his motion under which a third party can be issued the document. These, he said were revealed from the website of the Cambridge Assessment International Education. Among them is “that the CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION only delivers the said ‘CERTIFYING STATEMENT’ either by email or by post and not by personal collection”.
Consequently, Mr. Agu called for the investigation of the said misrepresentation taking into consideration the following:
- Where did Mr. Kyari get the certificate which he enclosed alongside his application form for the issuance of the said “CERTIFYING STATEMENT” which he claimed he procured from CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION among five other demands.
- Whether Mr Abba Kyari as an individual can apply for the said “CERTIFYING STATEMENT” not being an ACADEMIC INSTITUTION or an EMPLOYER of the candidate?
- Whether the said “CERTIFYING STATEMENT” can be delivered to Mr. Abba Kyari by hand as he claimed he signed and personally collected same by hand in UK?
- Evidence of the said application by Mr. Abba Kyari to the CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
- Evidence of the mandatory payment of the fee for the issuance of the said “CERTIFYING STATEMENT”
- Evidence of the candidate’s AUTHORISATION to the CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION for the release of the said “CERTIFYING STATEMENT” to Mr. Abba Kyari
The petitioner concluded by praying thus:
“With the greatest respect, sir, in the circumstance the said “CERTIFYING STATEMENT” claimed to have been procured by Mr. Abba Kyari is found to be forged, it will be of great service to United Kingdom, Nigeria and the International Community that Mr. Abba Kyari is arrested and arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction in the UNITED KINGDOM for FORGERY.
Mr. Kyari, a prominent member of the President Buhari cabinet, has been in the news mostly for the wrong reasons ever since he joined the administration took root on August 27, 2015. He has been accused in many quarters as being the ‘head of the cabal’ Nigerians have speculated as leading the government. He is also a close relative of President Buhari.
A product of three prominent England based institutions of higher learning, Abba Kyari worked for the law firm Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo for some time after his return to Nigeria. He also served as Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna. In 1990 he served as Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State. From 1990 to 1995, Kyari was Secretary to the Board of African International Bank Limited. Abba Kyari was Executive Director, Management Services, United Bank for Africa Plc. (UBA) and was later appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank. He was appointed a Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2002 and is a Director of Exxon Mobil Nigeria. He is a recipient of the Nigerian Honor Award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (O.O.N).
Mr. Agu, on his part, has remained an albatross on the neck of President Buhari and his administration, moving from one court to another and seeking one injunction after another against the incumbent.
In January 2019, Agu joined the duo of Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris, to stop President Buhari from contesting the 2019 Presidential Election, alleging that the President lied in his form CF 001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding his educational qualifications and certificates. However, the case was struck out in July by a three-member panel of justices, which unanimously held that the matter lacks merit, having been filed outside the time provided by Section 285 of the Nigerian Constitution.
If the Metropolitan Police heeds the petition, and conducts an investigation, it may just boost the chances of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the tussle to snatch Buhari’s presidency gets tougher.
Veteran journalist and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Dele Momodu, has declared that a joint presidential ticket between Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi represents the strongest strategy for the opposition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Momodu said the emerging ADC coalition is gaining momentum as a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he accused of promoting “one-man rule” and weakening democratic institutions.
Momodu argued that an Atiku–Obi ticket offers both experience and electoral appeal, noting that both politicians already command significant national followings from previous elections. He recalled their collaboration in 2019, adding that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election provides a ready base of supporters that can be consolidated.
According to him, the coalition is further strengthened by the involvement of political heavyweights such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, making it a formidable opposition alliance.
“The candidates who placed second, third, and even fourth are aligning. That naturally builds a strong challenge,” Momodu said, suggesting that this development could unsettle the APC ahead of 2027.
He also accused the Tinubu administration of centralising power and undermining democratic processes, claiming that key institutions—including the legislature and electoral system—are increasingly influenced by the executive arm of government. He warned that such a trend poses risks to Nigeria’s democracy.
Momodu further alleged that opposition parties face systemic obstacles, including difficulties in accessing venues, legal pressures, and institutional interference. He argued that these challenges have made opposition unity not just strategic, but necessary.
Dismissing concerns about possible cracks within the ADC coalition, Momodu described such fears as speculative, insisting that current political realities have effectively forced major opposition figures to work together.
The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for April 22 in the appeal filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in relation to the leadership dispute in the party.
Mark’s appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refusing to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba chose the date on Tuesday after granting accelerated hearing in the appeal marked: SC/CV/180/2026.
The court ordered Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) to file the appellant’s brief and serve on Wednesday.
It ordered the respondents to each file and serve on the appellant, a respondent’s brief within three days of being served with the appellant’s brief.
The appellant, according to the court, is to file a reply brief, if needs be, within one day of being served with the respondents’ briefs.
Headlines
Amid Denials, ADC Reportedly Secures Rainbow Event Centre As Venue for National Convention
Baring any last minute change, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National chairman and National Secretary respectively will hold the party’s National convention at the National Rainbow Event Centre in Garki on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has being denied two venues without any cogent reasons despite early arrangements, according to sources.
First, it was alleged that the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotels, which was initially approached, turned down the ADC request to use it’s facility.
The ADC, having sensed sabotage, has kept the Rainbow Event Center under rap as it’s definite venue.
The last National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was held at the same venue.
Located adjacent the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, the event centre will host the second NEC meeting of the ADC and it’s forthcoming national convention.
According to The Guardian’ report, the ADC leadership has communicated the venue to state chapters with the caveat not to escalate it.
The ADC is in a battle of survival against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has approached the Supreme Court for intervention.
The INEC national chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has suspended recognition of the David Mark-led ADC rendering a leadership vacuum in the party.
INEC said it’s decision was on the basis of an Appeal Court pronouncement that ordered statusquo ante-bellum be maintained.
Reports say that why the venue is being quietly decorated moderately for the event, the ADC intends to fully move in the early hours of Tuesday.
The Guardian
