Ogun Tribunal: WAEC Doesn’t Keep Candidates’ Certificate

James Sowole in Abeokuta

An official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Olufemi Olaleye, yesterday, told the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that the examination body, did not keep duplicate copy of candidates’ certificate.
Olaleye said to confirm whether or not somebody partook in the council’s examination, “the original certificate given to the candidate will be forwarded to WAEC” for verification.

Olaleye’s statement was sequel to the summoning  of the WAEC by the tribunal, asking the examination body to verify and present a copy of the WAEC certificate presented by Governor Dapo Abiodun, to the INEC.

The examination council had earlier been subpoenaed by the tribunal to produce a copy of Abiodun’s 1978 WAEC certificate as attached to the form he filled with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, in the March 18 governorship election, had alleged that Abiodun forged his WAEC certificate.
In his petition, Adebutu stated that, Abiodun “presented a forged West African Examinations Council School Certificate of June 1978 to the 1st Respondent” (INEC) on July 25, 2022.

The petitioner further stated that he had written a letter to WAEC, to verify the authenticity of the said examination certificate presented by Abiodun to INEC.
In the petition, “The petitioners shall at the trial subpoena officials of the said West African Examinations Council to testify on the falsity of the said certificate
While appearing before the tribunal, the WAEC official was not sworn, neither was he allowed to enter the witness box as he said “the requested certificate is not here with me.”

Asked whether he was with the copy of the said certificate, he said, “WAEC does not issue certificate to candidate twice.”
Olaleye was however allowed to tender in evidence, a copy of the subpoena issued to the examination body, upon which he was at the tribunal.

He was discharged immediately he was recorded as having testified before the tribunal as PW73.