Forgery: Again, UniJos Registrar testifies against Plateau lawmaker

The Registrar, University of Jos, Mr Monday Danjem, on Thursday again told the Federal High Court sitting in Jos that his University didn’t issued a purported Diploma certificate in Business Administration to Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan, a member representing Jos North/North constituency at Plateau state House of Assembly.

This was the second time the registrar has testified against the lawmaker; the first being a written document submitted to the court on 10th, December, 2016 when he was subpoenaed by the court.

Recalled that one Abdul Saleh who was an APC aspirant in the last general election filed a suit No: FHC/J/20/2015, challenging the authenticity of the lawmaker’s diploma certificate alleged to have been issued by the University of Jos.

Abdul Saleh, a plaintiff in the case alleged that the lawmaker who is the 1st Defendant has submitted a forged diploma certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for 2015 general elections.

During today’s sitting, in his testimony, the Registrar of the institution told court that the certificate didn’t emanate from his office.

While in a witness box, the Registrar when asked by the counsel to the plaintiff, David Ibeawuchi, about list of students that were conferred with Diploma in Business Administration on 25th November, 1996, he stated categorically that the document in question was not in existence as the institution didn’t graduate any student on that date.

When asked if there was any useful information he wants the court to take note of, he said, “Firstly that UniJos has never written to any person, organization or government agency informing them that it was later found that Ibrahim Baba Hassan has graduated from the institution,”

The registrar further said that the name of the lawmaker was never published in any journal or magazine as a graduate of the institution.

After the oral testimony given by the registrar, the presiding judge, Justice Musa Kurya then asked the counsel to the defendants to proceed with cross examination.

But a lawyer, E. O. Oyadiji from the counsel to the 1st Defendant’s chamber, Solomon Umoh Chambers, informed the court that his boss was not around and sought for an adjournment.

The presiding judge, Musa Kurya then adjourned the case to 29th and 30th November, 2018 for cross examination of the registrar.

The judge also added that the matter would continue on a day-to-day basis for accelerated hearing, since the case was a pre-election matter.