Drama In Court As WAEC Official Refuses To Verify Ogun Governor's Certificate, Says "My Lips Are Sealed"

 The West African Examination Council WAEC has declined confirming or debunking the authenticity of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun’s certificate.

One of the officials of the examination body, Olufemi Olaleye, while appearing before the tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Thursday also failed to tender a copy of Abiodun’s certificate.

The Tribunal had earlier subpoenaed WAEC to produce a copy of Abiodun’s 1978 WAEC certificate as attached to the form he filled with the Independent National Electoral Commission before the last election.

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The People’s Democratic Party and its candidate in the state in the March 18 governorship election, Ladi Adebutu, not satisfied with the declaration of Governor Abiodun by INEC, had dragged him and his party, the All Progressives Congress before the tribunal on the ground that the election was rigged.

Adebutu also accused Abiodun of forging his WAEC certificate.

In his petition, the PDP Candidate alleged that Abiodun presented a forged WAEC of June 1978 to the INEC, the 1st Respondent on July 25, 2022.

He noted further that he had written a letter to WAEC to verify the authenticity of the certificate presented by Abiodun to it.

The official of the examination body while appearing on Thursday, noted that he was neither with a copy of the certificate, nor did he confirm whether or not the governor sat for the examination as claimed.

Olaleye, when asked for a copy of the certificate, said:

"The requested certificate is not here with me.”

He tendered in evidence, a copy of the subpoena issued to WAWC, that made him present himself at the tribunal.

 Olaleye said he did not bring the requested certificate “because WAEC does not keep duplicates of collected WAEC certificates.”

The WAEC official said to confirm whether or not somebody partakes in the council’s examination, “the original certificate given to the candidate will be forwarded to WAEC” for verification.

The WAEC official was then discharged after testifing before the tribunal as PW73.

When newsmen attempted to speak to him outside the courtroom to give further explanations on why WAEC did not produce the requested certificate, Olaleye retorted: “My lips are sealed.”