Alleged Certificate Forgery: Appeal Court Dismisses High Court Judgement Against Rt Hon Ibrahim Baba-Hassan

Yakubu Busari

The Court of Appeal Jos division sitting in Plateau State Nigeria has dismissed the judgement of the Federal High Court against the Former Deputy Speaker RT Hon Ibrahim Baba Hassan challenging him on certificate forgery of Diploma obtained in 2006 at the University of Jos.

The Appeal Court  , Hon. Justice Mudassiru Oniyangi, in a consensus judgment, said the that the lower court presided over by Justice Musa Kurya, lack the jurisdiction to enter judgment on a 2015 pre-election suit matter against the former Deputy Speaker.

In his judgment, the Court of Appeal reads, the provision of section 285 (10), of the 1999 constitution, has declined jurisdiction of the High Court to heated and delivered judgment beyond 180 days.

“The matter goes beyond the stipulated 180 days requirement of the electoral law which to him has spent more than 3years as against 180 days, the judgment of the High Court was done without jurisdiction and therefore all written judgment was a nullity,” justice Oniyangi ordered.

He jurist raised concerned that the grounds of appeal canvassed by the appellant pursuant to section 285,  subsections (9),(10) & (12), have succeeded as the Court found merit in the appeal.

Justice Oniyangi, further going by the position of statute-barred of the case at the lower court, it is amount to waste of time for Court of Appeal to delve into other grounds of appeal as canvassed by the appellant.

“There is merit in the appeal, the High Court Judgement is hereby set aside,” he ordered.

Speaking after the judgment, Rt Hon Ibrahim Baba-Hassan expressed confidence in the judiciary by calling on his supporters to calm down.

He said the victory at the appellant court clearly demonstrated the will of his constituent who stood firm for him but promise to carry everyone alone in the governance of the affairs by calling on the people of Jos North – North constituency to embrace peace and unity.

Baba-Hassan says, as a democrat he would ensure that those who pursued him he has forgiven them all but to operate an all-inclusive leadership, I love to tolerate everyone because I have sacrificed a lot for unity people of Plateau Northern Senatorial district of Plateau State.