Tribunal: WAEC fails to tender Ogun gov Abiodun’s certificate, gives reason

An official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Olufemi Olaleye, on Thursday, July 20, appeared before the Ogun State election petition tribunal without tendering a copy of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun’s certificate.

Abiodun was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State during the March 18 gubernatorial election.

The examination council had earlier been subpoenaed by the tribunal to produce a copy of Dapo Abiodun’s 1978 WAEC certificate as attached to the form he filled with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This followed an allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu, that Abiodun forged his WAEC certificate.

Channels TV reported that the WAEC official was not placed on oath, nor was he allowed to enter the witness box as he said “the requested certificate is not here with me”.

However, Olufemi Olaleye was allowed to tender in evidence, a copy of the subpoena issued to the examination body, upon which he was at the tribunal, Vanguard report added.

He told the tribunal he did not bring the requested certificate “because WAEC does not keep duplicates of collected WAEC certificates”.

He stated that to confirm whether or not somebody partakes in the council’s examination, “the original certificate given to the candidate will be forwarded to WAEC” for verification.

Olaleye was discharged immediately he was recorded as having testified before the tribunal as PW73.