The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been summoned by Chief Magistrate Court of Federal Capital Territory in the Wuse Magisterial District over forgery and perjury charge.
The charge was filed by a PDP chieftain, Chief Honesty Aginbatse, following the report of discrepancies in the birth dates provided in the nomination forms Senator Okpebholo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the governorship election.
On July 22, SaharaReporters reported that Senator Okpebholo was facing fresh allegations of age falsification.
Documents submitted to INEC, which were obtained by SaharaReporters, show discrepancies in the date of birth of the lawmaker.
While the date of birth stated on Okpebholo’s 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Senate nomination form is March 29, 1970, the birth date provided in his 2024 INEC governorship nomination affidavit differs.
In the 2024 governorship form, Okpebholo listed three different dates of birth: August 29, 1970 in an age declaration document, August 29, 1972 on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) result, and August 1, 1977 on his INEC voter card.
SaharaReporters exclusively reported on July 10, 2024 that Senator Okpebholo appeared not to have registered to vote in Edo State.
Checks carried on the INEC website revealed the shocking development, despite the politician submitting a voter card purportedly obtained from Esan West Local Government Area.
Meanwhile the court summons obtained by SaharaReporters is dated September 12, 2024 and signed by Abubakar Mukhtar, Magistrate 1 FCT.
The summons ordered Okpebholo to appear before the magistrate on September 20, barely 24 hours before the Edo governorship election.
The case filed at Court 17A Wuse Zone 2, with case No. CR/WZ2/816/2024 is between Mr Honesty Aginbatse as the Complainant under Criminal procedure code (CAP.30 255) and Senator Monday Okpehbolo as the Defendant.
It partly reads: “Summon to an accused person: To Sen. Monday Okpehbolo of No 36 Gaborone Street Wuse Zone 2 Abuja.
“Whereas your attendance is required to answer to a charge of making a false statement on oath you are hereby summoned to appear in person before Magistrate Court at Wuse Zone 2 on the 20th day of September 2024 at 12 Noon.”
SaharaReporters had reported that the multiplicity of dates of birth provided in his INEC forms had raised questions about the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s candidacy.
Under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, a conviction for offences involving dishonesty or fraud disqualifies a person from running for governor, raising questions about Okpebholo’s eligibility if convicted.
