Forgery case: Umo Eno fails to produce original results in court

Abasifreke Effiong

Mr Umo Eno, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State has failed to produce his original WAEC certificate in court.

The court had given Mr Eno till Monday, September 12, to respond to the amended writ of originating summons which demanded Mr Eno to produce his original certificate for sighting.

The plaintiff, Mr Akan Okon, through his lead counsel, Mr Okey Amaechi, SAN, had during the sitting on August 29, 2022, in a notice to produce his WAEC result, asked that Mr Eno should produce his original WAEC certificate for sighting.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Mr Eno failed to produce the original version of the certificate he filed as part of his credentials to the PDP governorship screening committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Leading the plaintiff Mr Akan Okon, through cross-examination while in the witness box, the plaintiff’s lead counsel, Mr Amaechi, reminded counsel to the 2nd defendant of their earlier notice to produce Mr Eno’s original WAEC certificate.

The defendant’s legal team led by Mr Paul Usoro, SAN, appealed to the plaintiff’s lead counsel to play down his demand on notice to produce the original WAEC certificate, saying that they were not in court with it on Monday, 12 September 2022.

Usoro thereafter pleaded to the court that the issue of the certificate should be stepped down to allow his client Mr Umo Eno, more time to produce the certificate.

Responding to the pleadings, the Judge, Justice A. A. Okeke, stood down the demand and gave the defendant till Tuesday 13th to respond to the notice. The case has been adjourned for continuation of hearing on Tuesday 13th August.