Breaking News: Enugu State House of Assembly Tribunal Hears Case of Alleged Forged Resignation Letter

A session held at the Enugu State High Court, the Enugu State House of Assembly Tribunal heard the case between Hon Solomon Izuchukwu Onah, the petitioner, and Hon Obinna Ugwuanyi Ijele. The proceedings commenced with Mr. Tochukwu Maduka SAN, Counsel to the Petitioner, presenting a significant piece of evidence – a document authored by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria.

The document from the Vice Chancellor clearly stated that Hon Obinna Ijele, a University of Nigeria staff, had not resigned from his position before contesting  the election into the Enugu State House of Assembly. The Vice Chancellor outrightly characterized any letter presented by the defendant as a forgery and emphasized that Hon Obinna Ijele remains a current staff member of the institution. This revelation has raised implications concerning Hon Obinna Ugwuanyi Ijele's status as a federal civil servant as per the relevant constitutional provision.

Section 107 (1) (f) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) outlines that individuals employed in the public service, who have not resigned, withdrawn, or retired thirty days prior to an election, are ineligible for election to a House of Assembly. The presented document not only casts doubt on the authenticity of Hon Obinna Ugwuanyi Ijele's resignation letter but also implies that he remains an active staff member of the University of Nigeria, violating the constitutional requirement for candidacy.

During the proceedings, Barr Ike Ozor, Counsel to the defendant, raised an objection against the admissibility of the document. He contended that the document was submitted late. In response, Tochukwu Maduka SAN defended the document's submission, noting its fundamental relevance to the case. Despite the objection, the Tribunal overruled it, accepting the document as evidence.

The Tribunal subsequently adjourned the hearing to resume on August 29th, acknowledging the significance of the evidence presented.

Zamfara State Tribunal Nullifies Election Based on Resignation Requirement

In a related development, the Zamfara State National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, situated in Sokoto, nullified the election of Basiru Bello Auki, the State lawmaker representing Bungudu West in the House of Assembly. The election was conducted under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The three-member panel of judges rendered the decision on Thursday, invalidating Basiru Bello Auki's election due to his failure to resign from his position as a civil servant at the Bungudu Local Government council within the stipulated thirty days before the election. This non-compliance with the constitutional requirement laid out in Section 107 (1) (f) led to the tribunal's decision.

The petitioner, Basiru Lawal Bungudu, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), successfully demonstrated that Basiru Bello Auki had not resigned from his public service position and even received his last salary from the local government council after being elected.

The tribunal's judgment underscores the importance of adhering to the constitutional provisions and the serious consequences of presenting false or forged documents in election matters. This decision comes as a cautionary tale for individuals seeking public office and serves as a reminder of the legal obligations associated with such positions.

[Attached Below is a Letter from the Vice Chancellor of UNN]