Age falsification: Cross River gov to know fate July 22

A Federal High Court in Abuja has set July 22 for judgement in the suit challenging the election of Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State over alleged age falsification.

Justice Abdul Kafarati Wednesday fixed the date for judgement following the adoption of processes by parties in the suit.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the state, Joe Agi (SAN), had filed the action asking the court to disqualify the governor for purportedly submitting false information on his age to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Arguing his originating summons, Agi told the court that Ayade gave false information and declaration on oath in INEC Form CF 001 that he was born on March 2, 1969 and in completing the screening form gave March 2, 1968 as his date of birth.

Agi also told the court that subpoenaed record from the University of Ibadan also showed that while applying for admission to study Microbiology in 1984, Ayade gave his date of birth as March 2, 1966.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who came second in the December 2014 governorship primary, argued that having breached the PDP Electoral Guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2010, the court should restrain Ayade and declare him (Agi) the candidate of the party.

But counsels to Ayade and the PDP, Paul Erokoro ( SAN) and Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit as well as the mode of filing of the processes.

Erokoro claimed that one of the documents relied on as exhibit in the case was forged.