Tribunal: UNIUYO Clears A/Ibom Gov Of Alleged Certificate Forgery

By our correspondent

At the resume hearing on the alleged certificate forgery case levelled against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, by the Governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Senator Bassey Akpan, at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, the State capital yesterday, the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), standing as one of the Star witnesses, confirmed Eno, as having graduated from the instruction.

Confirming the Governor’s studentship and subsequent graduation from the school Dr. Ime Success Akpan, who was accompanied by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, told the Governorship Petitions Tribunal that the defeated candidate of the YPP, Senator Bassey Albert and his legal team “are mischief makers out to deceive the court and the general public.

Senator Akpan’, had in his petition alleged that Governor Eno, didn’t go to school and was not a legitimate student of the University of Uyo, and it was learnt the Tribunal, acting the YPP candidate’s application, subpoenaed the UNIUYO management over the allegation.

Speaking as a subpoenaed witness at the Tribunal at the weekend, Dr. Ime Akpan, Director of Academic Affairs of the University, said the fake result certificate bearing the tag number 98UG017806, did not emanate from the University of Uyo, stressing that “Umo Eno graduated from the University of Uyo, but not with this registration number.”

He said: “My Lord, this document did not emanate from the University of Uyo. It is designed to mislead and deceive the Court.This registration number belongs to Ugoji Chinenye, who was admitted to study Communication Arts.

When further cross examined, Dr Akpan who told the tribunal he had worked in the University for 24 years, said the piece of evidence submitted by Senator Akpan to the court was forged.

“My Lord, this stamp is a forged stamp. We don’t recognize that stamp to be of the University of Uyo. It is to deceive the public and mislead the Court,” he noted.

On the letter of expulsion purportedly issued against Pastor Umo Eno, by the institution, Dr Ime Akpan, said, “Everything here is wrong. This document did not emanate from the University of Uyo”

The document tendered by the YPP’s counsel is signed by one Daniel J. Akpan, said to be an Administrative Officer 1, but Dr. Success Akpan, disagreed, saying; “No, we don’t have any Administrative Officer 1, known as Daniel Akpan.”

”The Registrar has authority to certify documents emanating from the University of Uyo and if he is not around, he can mandate the Director (which is me) to sign. Administrative Officer 1 is so low in ranking to certify such “a University documents,” he added.