Justice Abdulaziz Anka, the presiding judge in the certificate forgery case against Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State, has excused himself from the case for personal reasons.
Reading out the ruling on Wednesday at the Yola Division of the Federal High Court, Justice Anka said he would return the case file to the Chief Judge of the court for re-assignment to another judge.
A Non Governmental Organisation, Incorporated Trustees of Global Integrity Crusade Network had filed the case at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in October, challenging the qualification of the governor after alleging that the WAEC certificate he presented to INEC was false.
The case was heard in Abuja by Justice B.O Quadri who ordered for accelerated hearing before it was later transferred to Yola Division of the court.
During the Wednesday sitting in Yola, counsels to both parties had expressed readiness to proceed before Justice Anka requested to see them in his chambers.
Soon after resumption, the judge expressed his decision to withdraw from the case.
Answering questions from the press, the Defence Counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said the plaintiff had no locus standi to challenge the nomination of Governor Jibrilla because they were neither candidates nor citizens of Adamawa State.
He said the case had previously been dismissed by a judge in Abuja for lack of basis, expressing confidence that his client would emerge victorious.
In his reaction, Counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Edward Omaga said the plaintiff had evidence that the governor did not have WAEC results and that WAEC authorities had filed papers at the court on Tuesday, confirming that the results he presented were false.
“We do have evidence that he presented a false WAEC result. We have attached 10 exhibits and WAEC have filed yesterday that the certificate he presented belonged to a different person who attended the same school. Section 182 is clear: once you have submitted a false certificate to INEC, you cannot contest election”, he stated.
