Buhari Challenges Suit Against Certificate Forgery

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday challenged two suits filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to disqualify him from contesting in the forthcoming presidential poll on the ground of alleged certificate forgery and perjury.

Two plaintiffs, Chike Okafor and Max Ozoaka, had filed separate suits seeking to stop Buhari.

Last week, the court granted an order of substituted service of court processes on Buhari in the two suits.

When the case came up yesterday, lead lawyer to Buhari, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led about seven other Senior Advocates of Nigeria told the court that he is opposing the suit in its entirety and also the order for substituted service.

Though, he is yet to file any process as at yesterday, he however informed the court that he is still within time.

He thereby prayed for a short adjournment to enable him file his defence to the suit.

Also, the lawyer to APC, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) submitted that with the postponement of the elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, there is no urgency in the matter and as such the order for substituted service be set aside.

He also sought for a short adjournment to enable him file his process to the suit.

Plaintiffs in the two suits did not oppose to the request for adjournment.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Adeniyi Ademola later adjourned the matter till February 23 for hearing of all pending applications.