Court summons UniJos over forgery suit against legislator

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos has summoned the Registrar of the University of Jos, Jilli Dandam, to testify in a case of alleged certificate forgery against a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Baba Hassan.

The suit was filed by an APC aspirant in the last general election, Abdul Nasir Saleh, against Baba Hassan, who is representing Jos North/North in the state Assembly.

At the last sitting, counsel to the defendant, Solomon Umoh, SAN, in his preliminary objection, had asked the court to dismiss the case on the ground that there were conflicting evidences surrounding the allegation level against his client. He also said the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

But counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. David Ibeawuchi, insisted that since there were conflicting evidences on the matter, the university should be invited to give oral evidence on whether Baba Hassan had actually bagged a Diploma certificate from the institution.

The presiding judge, Justice Musa Kuya, therefore, ruled out Umoh’s objections, saying for there to be substantial justice in the case, an oral evidence should be given on the conflicting evidences presented before him.