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Certificate forgery: Reps Spokesman, Benjamin Kalu to know fate soon
Spokesman for the House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State will on Monday, August 28, know his fate over Certificates he alledgedly forged that has become a lawsuit from his political opponent.
Hon. Ezeala Okechukwu, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress has dragged the embattled Benjamin Kalu before the State High Court, Umuahia for forgery and perjury.
An allegation that the lawmaker has denied even as Counsels of both parties are battling to prove points in Court.
The presiding Judge Justice Chijioke fixed the date for Judgement, after the counsels for the claimant, Barrister Okey Amaechi (SAN) and Barrister K C Nwaoffor (SAN) for the defendant presented their final addresses.
Presenting his final address Barrister Okey Amaechi said that the respondent Honourable Benjamin Kalu lied on oath, stating that he didn’t show that he was educated up to secondary Certificate level.
The claimant counsel Okey Amaechi said that his argument is based on the fact that all the purported academic certificates submitted by the defendant Honourable Benjamin Kalu, when contesting election in 2019, none of them are bearing his name right from primary school, University and up to law school.
Okey Amaechi, stated that all the academic certificates bear Osisiogu which he said is strange.
He equally pointed out that the first defendant in his response admitted that Osisiogu is not his surname and that he adopted the name from an uncle, which the learned counsel said is not proper.
The claimant counsel also argued that the NYSC discharge certificate procured by Honourable Benjamin Kalu was given the same year the defendant was in the law school, which he claimed was procured for the purpose of the election.
Barrister Okey Amaechi equally said that the preliminary objections of the third defendant counsel Barrister E.I Amadi (Mrs.) INEC, that the claimant didn’t bring the action within the constitutional 14 days time frame allowed for pre-election matters, has been settled by the Supreme Court, which held that there is an exception because the action is illegal and that time doesn’t run against it.
The claimant counsel urges the court to grant them all the reliefs sought for as the defendants have virtually no defence.
The reliefs sought is for the court to determine if the first respondent is a valid candidate in that election and that if not, the next candidate should be given the election.
In his own address, the counsel for the first respondent Honourable Benjamin Kalu, Barrister K C Nwaoffor (SAN) submitted that in law, it’s a case of who allege, should prove. He said that the first defendant in his counter-affidavit stated that all the certificates bearing Osisiogu are all referable to him and that he attached evidence of change of name.
He stated that the Supreme Court held that in a situation like this, “If the person challenging him fails to say who is the owner of those documents, he has no case”.
He said that the claimant alleged forgery, which he said is not, the onus is on them to prove.
He concluded by asking the court to dismiss the suit with substantial cost.
In her own address the counsel for the third defendant INEC Barrister, Amadi E. I (Mrs.) urged the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety for lack of jurisdiction with a punitive cost.
The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been summoned to the Nigerian Po,ice Force headquarters to face criminal investigation.
In a letter dated 4th April and signed by Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, said he was directed by the Inspector General of Police to invite the Emir for questioning for violating Durbar ban.
A copy of the letter sighted by CAPITAL POST indicated that Sanusi led a Durbar processing to the Government House to pay homage despite the ban which the Police expressed security concerns.
The urged Emir Sanusi Lamido to appear on Tuesday,b8th April, 2025.
Sanusi reportedly led a procession in car as against the usual horses in which a 20-year old in the entourage was arrested and detained.
Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio has accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Elisha Abbo of being united I coordinated attacks against him lately.
He stated this following Natasha’s claims during a rally in her Kogi Central Senatorial District that he recruited the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to assassinate her outside Abuja.
At the rally on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which was monitored by CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, Natasha accused the former Governor Yahaya Bello, having been contacted late in the night of March 12, 2025 to orchestrated ‘recall and assassination’ of her outside Abuja.
Natasha said she has intelligence reports that when she is killed in her Constituency, “it will look as if it’s her people that killed her.”
Though Bello was yet to issue a statement debunking the allgations or otherwise, Senate President on his part denied the allegation and described it as falsehood and inflammatory.
Reacting in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publici, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh on Friday, Akpabio accused former Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial, Elisha Abbo of toeing the similar part of blackmail, saying barely 24 hours later, on April 2, 2025, Elisha Abbo appeared on Arise Television to revive a previously withdrawn claim that Senator Akpabio “manipulated the judiciary” to secure his removal from the Senate.
The statement said: “Nigerians will recall that Mr. Abbo, in 2023, publicly retracted this same accusation and tendered an apology after acknowledging that his claims were founded on incorrect assumptions.
“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North.
“In a further twist, Mr. Abbo also alleged that he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President. This, too, is categorically false. Entitlements such as salaries and allowances are processed strictly through administrative and legal procedures.
“The Senate President does not and cannot unilaterally approve or deny such requests. Any delays or rejections would have been based solely on due diligence and compliance with established protocols.
“The timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign. These individuals—backed by undisclosed interests—appear united in a desperate effort to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership and intended to distract from their own personal and political shortcomings and failings.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric.
“Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo.
“We call on the Nigerian public in particular and the International Community to reject these baseless and provocative narratives. The Senate, under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, remains focused on its constitutional mandate: to promote legislative excellence, safeguard democratic values, and deliver meaningful progress for the Nigerian people”, the statement concluded.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has expressed heartfelt sympathy over the demise of Hon. Suleiman Muhammed, the Kogi East Zonal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a condolence message to the family of the deceased and members of the APC in Kogi state, described the sudden passing of the APC Zonal chairman as a loss not only for the party in Kogi East but the entire APC family in the state.
According to the Governor “The late Hon. Suleiman Muhammed was a man of peace, humility, and one who demonstrated commitment to the service of the state and the APC as a party. He carried the aspirations of his people with dignity; his leadership was widely respected and his contributions deeply valued within and beyond the APC in Kogi East”.
“He was instrumental in strengthening party cohesion and promoting inclusive dialogue. His presence in every party engagement brought stability and thoughtful leadership to our consultations in the zone.”
Governor Ododo further noted that Hon. Suleiman’s calm temperament, sense of fairness, and ability to listen distinguished him as a unifying figure in the party.
The Governor also extends condolences to the family of the deceased, the leadership and members of the APC in the state, the people of Dekina local government area and the entire Kogi East Senatorial District.
He prayed that Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanatul Firdaus.
The late APC zonal chairman who served as the APC coordinator in Odu Ward 2 before becoming the zonal chairman of the party in Kogi East died at the age of 45 and has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.
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