Headlines
UI Registrar Confirms Obaseki Graduated in 1979, Says Certificate Not Forged
The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was on Tuesday cleared by the authorities of the University of Ibadan of alleged forgery of his degree certificate brought against him by the All Progressives Congress.
But hearing in the matter continues today (Wednesday) at a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The degree certificate was confirmed to have been issued to Obaseki by the institution in 1979 after his formal graduation.
The Deputy Chief Registrar, Legal Affairs, UI, Abayomi Ajayi, who testified on subpoena, told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that the governor graduated from the university.
Relevant pages of UI calendar for 1976, admission brochure for degrees, award of diplomas and certificates and Obaseki’s application for admission and another one for collection of his certificate from the university were tendered by the witness and admitted as exhibits by the court.
The witness maintained that from the records of the university, Obaseki was admitted as student in 1976 through direct entry and graduated in 1979.
Under cross examination by counsel for the APC, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), the witness said, “I will not regard the photocopy of the original certificate as forged, but incomplete photocopy, because the certificate of the University of Ibadan is larger than the paper upon which the photocopy was made.”
Earlier in his evidence, Charity Aiguobarueghian, an unofficial advisor to Obaseki, had admitted making the disputed photocopy of the original degree certificate for his principal.
All the certificates, which are original copies, were admitted as exhibits by Justice Mohammed.
Meanwhile, ThankGod Iduresi, the younger brother of the South-South Zonal Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Gabriel Iduseri, was on Tuesday shot by gunmen in Benin, who also made away with his car.
Gabriel, a witness in the certificate forgery case instituted against Obaseki, gave his testimony on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It is not clear if there is any link between his involvement in the case and the attack on his brother.
The Punch
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday, held a crucial meeting with service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies in the country
The crucial meeting took place at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja, followed reports of a directive by the President of United States, Donald Trump to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over the alleged genocide of Christians in the country.
Security sources hinted that the emergency meeting, which began in the afternoon was aimed at assessing the implications of Trump’s statement accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militant groups.
Trump’s remarks, made late Saturday, stated that the U.S. military was being prepared to “act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy” a statement that had triggered widespread concern across diplomatic and security circles in Abuja.
Reports said that the NSA convened the session to coordinate a unified national security response and review intelligence assessments on the potential fallout of the U.S. president’s pronouncement.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to be communicated through official channels from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
