Certificate Forgery: New Bayelsa Dep Gov Speaks

The newly inaugurated deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has opened up on the certificate forgery allegation leveled against him.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Sunday, the deputy governor delinked the issues concerning him from that of the All Progressives Congress, APC running mate, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo who was sanctioned for applying a multiplicity of names in various certificates.

He spoke against the background of allegations that his National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate was forged.

The deputy governor who spoke through his lawyer, Clement Bibisa Kekemek debunked the insinuations of forgery saying that his surname was spelt wrongly compelling him to seek for a reissued certificate which was rightly given to him.

He said: “Sometimes in 2019 preparatory to the National Assembly elections, and specifically that of Bayelsa West Senatorial District, where Senator Ewrudjakpo represented until he was sworn in as deputy governor; one Ibisene Afamkolo took him to the Federal High Court and commenced a suit by way of originating summons accusing him of presenting a forged NYSC Exemption Certificate.

“While dealing with that matter, being a pre-election matter; at a point, it became status barred having exceeded the period of 180 days within which it ought to have been dispensed with by virtue of the provision of the 1999 Constitution.

“The next thing that followed was that truly on the certificate presented to INEC by my client in his form CS001, which is the nomination form, his surname was mis-spelt.

“Instead of Ewhrudjakpo, the name was mis-spelt as Ewhrudjakpa.  After the matter was struck out and even though my client had earlier applied for the correction of this mis-spelt name, he was further bored by that matter by reapplying again for the issuance of a new certificate.

“He applied again, drawing the attention of the NYSC to the error on his surname and seeking a re-issuance of a correct certificate. Consequently, the NYSC responded and reissued a fresh certificate correcting our client’s name, reflecting the surname now as Ewhrudjakpo, being the issuing authority that has the loci standi to replace an erroneously issued certificate. That put the matter to rest.”

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG