The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu got his Chicago State University certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission from a third-party vendor.
Mr Keyamo deceptively tweeted on Sunday, “When some comments or perception of otherwise plain and simple issues are so moronic, mischievous or downright odious, they really do not deserve a response because you’d be dignifying idiocy. But let me drop this here for posterity:
“I have been a defence and prosecution lawyer at the highest level in criminal trials for more than 30 years. YOU CANNOT ALLEGE OR PROVE FORGERY EXCEPT THE PURPORTED MAKER OF THE DOCUMENT DENIES ITS AUTHENTICITY OR THERE IS UNCONTRADICTED EVIDENCE OF A FORENSIC REPORT THAT CATEGORICALLY SAYS THE DOCUMENT WAS DELIBERATELY ALTERED OR CONCOCTED BY THE PERSON WHO UTTERED (in a legal sense) OR ISSUED IT.”
Although not mentioning the third-party vendor the president got his certificate from to substantiate his claim, Mr Keyamo added that it was the duty of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to find the vendor to prove his case at the Supreme Court.
“Applying this principle to the case of Atiku Abubakar V Chicago State University, so long as the University openly said THEY DO NOT ISSUE REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES, BUT THAT VENDORS DO SO ON THEIR BEHALF, all these noise about so-called forgery are useless until THE PARTICULAR VENDOR THAT ISSUED the replacement certificate to @officialABAT denies its authenticity. And it is the duty of the accuser to fish out the said vendor and get that evidence. It is not the other way round. He who alleges must prove.
“This is the simple principle I laid down in 2019 during our defence of President Buhari that has been so mischievously celebrated as if they have hit the bull’s eye. Unfortunately for them, @officialABAT is as clean and white as snow on this issue and we are again waiting for them at the Supreme Court.
“As for ATIKU Abubakar (the famed SPV king and the one who disgraced Nigeria internationally with the money-laundering case involving Congressman William Jefferson), we acknowledge the valedictory speech he delivered a few days ago signifying his retirement from politics and we wish him godspeed in that retirement.”
Mr Keyamo lied in his claim that the president got the certificate from a third-party vendor, as according to the disposition of the U.S. court, the school stated that it does not give issuance of certificates to third parties and does not accept requests for third parties.
The minister’s lie followed a barrage of criticisms over his posts on April 15, 2019, when he praised former president Muhammadu Buhari’s receipt of his WAEC Certificate but condemned the alleged certificate forgery of the now Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke.
His 2019 tweet read, “Forgery occurs when the supposed author of a document denies ever making it or denies its authenticity. WAEC has confirmed the authenticity of PMB’s certificate by issuing an attestation of it. Case closed. In #OsunCaseScenario WAEC has denied the authenticity. See d difference?”
In another tweet the same day, Mr Keyamo said, “By the definition of “School Certificate or its equivalent” in section 318 of the 1999 const. u don’t need a WAEC certificate to become President or Governor, but if you present a FORGED WAEC or other certificate to INEC for any office you will be disqualified. #OsunStateScenario.”
Peoples Gazette
