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Tribunal Admits Original Of Obaseki’s UI Degree Certificate As Evidence In Agol Petition

The counsel for the third respondent, Godwin Obaseki in the petition filed by Tracy Ebun Agol against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the governor, through a witness on Wednesday tendered the original copies of the Bachelor of Arts degree in classical studies, issued to him (Obaseki) by the University of Ibadan in 1979, before the Edo governorship election petition tribunal.


A photo combination of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and a court gavel.
A photo combination of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and a court gavel.

 

The lawyer for Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday tendered the original copies of the Bachelor of Arts degree in classical studies, issued to him (Obaseki) by the University of Ibadan in 1979, before the Edo governorship election petition tribunal.

Upon opening his defence, in the petition filed by Tracy Ebun Agol against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the governor, Obaseki’s counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), called a subpoenaed witness, one Mr. Abayomi Samuel Ajayi, the Deputy Registrar, legal, of the University of Ibadan, who confirmed that he had testified about the original certificate, had come in contact with it and could identify it.

The original certificate was subsequently tendered and admitted in evidence without any objection from the other respondents.

The counsel for the petitioner, however, objected to its admissibility reserving reasons till the final written address.

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Also admitted in evidence was a certified copy of the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit fhc/b/cs/74/2020 delivered on January 9.

The witness also produced other documents; including Godwin Obaseki’s application for admission, matriculation oath, congregation for admission where third respondent’s name appeared on the admission list, documents evidencing his application for and collection of degree certificate and University of Ibadan entry requirements for the 1976-1977 academic year.

These documents were also tendered and admitted as evidence without objection from the other respondents while the counsel for the petitioner objected to their admissibility, reserving the grounds till the final address.