Appeal Court orders retrial of forgery case against Suswam.

THE Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi,has ordered that the case of certificate forgery against the incumbent Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State should be retried by the state Election Petitions Tribunal. 

 

Ruling on the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Prof. Daniel Saror, the appellate court held that the lower tribunal erred by holding that the certificate issue had nothing to do with the election of Suswam, when it actually formed part of the conditions for his qualification for the election.

 

The presiding judge of the court, Justice Munir Ladan, sent the case back to the lower tribunal for retrial.

 

Following the ruling, the governor called on his supporters to remain calm, saying that the appeal court’s ruling would be challenged at the Supreme Court.

 

Briefing newsmen at the Benue Hotels in Makurdi after the ruling, Special Adviser to Governor Suswam on Media and Public Affairs, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, said the governor was aware of the ruling and expressed satisfaction and unshakable confidence in the judiciary. 

 

‘The governor has been fully briefed and has taken it with philosophical calmness even though he made it clear that the ruling would be challenged’, the media adviser said.

 

The governor, according to Akwaya has urged his supporters to remain calm, law abiding and continue to be supportive of his administration since his lawyers are working tirelessly to handle the ruling at the Supreme Court.

  Source The Moment Newspaper.