Anthony Iwuoma
Imo North Senatorial Zone of Imo State is currently in the eye of the storm. The zone has been the subject of political musical chairs since the search for who replaces Benjamin Uwajumogu, the senator representing the zone, died in late 2019. As is usual with Nigerian politics, all manner of men threw their hats into the ring. Most of them were comic fellows, seeking to improve their resume or stomach infrastructure, but at the end of the day, three serious contenders emerged. Of the trio, two were from the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, produced the remaining one, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu.
Unfortunately, the APC, which could have easily picked the slot, was locked in an internecine war between Sir Frank Ibezim, its official candidate, and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who was bent on scuttling the party’s chances for not giving him the party ticket.
Well, the party ticket was deservedly given to Ibezim, who won the primaries, beating Araraume to the third place. However, Araraume would have none of that; that despite all the clogs and land mines laid in the way of Ibezim, including probably induced disqualification, the party still cleared him to contest the primaries where he trounced everybody else.
Having lost his plethora of suits to stop Ibezim, dragging from Owerri to Port Harcourt, and Abuja, even up to the Supreme Court where Araraume lost all claims to the party ticket and his bid to arm-twist the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare him the winner of the election, which the electoral umpire declared the party winner instead of an outright declaration of Ibezim, the party’s official candidate.
Obviously frustrated by the fact that Ibezim is like a cat with nine lives, another vicious scheme was woven around Ibezim’s academic qualifications. And, as at now, the Federal High court, Abuja, and Appeal Court, also in Abuja, hold that Ibezim was actually guilty of certificate forgery.
The learned Justice Ekwo had ruled that there were discrepancies in Ibezim’s West African Examination Council, WAEC’s Statement of Results and Certificate of Results with one having nine and the other seven subjects and, therefore, ruled that Ibezim was guilty of forgery. This is far from the truth for everyone knows that what the judge was deceived to rule as forgery is standard WAEC practice; whereas a Statement of Results contains all subjects, which the candidate registered or intended to sit for, the Certificate of Results lists only the subjects the candidate actually sat for and passed.
The truth of the matter is that Ibezim neither forged nor presented any forged certificate anywhere. The records of his academic results and certificates presented in court expose the barefaced falsehood. That courts could look at those certificates and still affirm them forged, without even summoning the issuing institutions, WAEC and Uboma Secondary School, Ikperejere, Etiti in Imo State to disclaim the so-called forged certificates flies in the face of reason.
Moreover, in the first place, Ibezim never submitted different certificates, as the judges claimed. Ibezim submitted only one West African School Certificate, WASC, which covered both School Certificate and General Certificate of Education, GCE. The other two are statements of the result of the same examination; one issued by Uboma Secondary School, Ikperejere, Etiti, and the other computer printouts from WAEC portal. Anyone who wishes can still access the results by visiting the WAEC portal. It is noteworthy too that contrary to the Judges’ claim, the statement of result or certificate bears the same name, Ibezim Francis Chukwuma, and in the same order. It is strange, therefore, that the hallowed temple of justice could allow this slip.
So, while it is true that Ibezim registered for nine subjects as evidenced in his Statement of Results, he passed seven excellently and made overall GRADE 1(ONE) result; this was clearly reflected on his Certificate of Results. The difference in the number of subjects listed on the Statement and Certificate of results arose from Ibezim not writing the examination for two subjects (Statistics and Accounts), which were consequently not listed on the Certificate of Results, as only subjects passed are listed on the certificate. This is what the opponents are passing off as fake results and strangely upheld by the courts.
The same goes for the accusation of forgery and perjury against Ibezim without proof. This is a serious criminal offence that could destroy Ibezim’s public life forever. Such a grievous issue ought not to be treated with such levity. It is, therefore, worrisome and inexplicable that Ibezim’s opponents were able to convince both courts on this.
The name Frank only appeared on the INEC documents and nowhere else. Frank is an acceptable variant of Francis, as Tony is to Anthony, and Livy to Livinus. Only mischief-makers see to make a mountain out of this mole hill, as it is a settled matter in the case between Dantiye vs APC and its candidate, Mohammed (SC.CV/627/2020).
One is utterly shocked that Nigeria’s hallowed chamber of justice is being desecrated, as it is so apparent that it is possible to procure any judgment. Thank God for the apex court, the repository of the best brains and conscience of our judicial system, hence unlikely to be deceived too.
The sad episode in Imo is scripted in deceit by sadistic individuals, who do not have scruples destroying a burgeoning star at all cost. That the courts have wittingly or unwittingly succumbed to this manipulation is what has got everyone worried; that is why all eyes are on the Supreme Court to reverse the unholy encroachment on the temple of justice.
Obviously, Ibezim is a victim of a diseased system that deserves urgent healing. It is now the duty of the Supreme Court to rise to the occasion. As a matter of fact, nobody expects the apex court to just free Ibezim from the evil noose around his neck but also to purge our polity of all vestiges of oppression. Above all, the common man needs to be assured that there is still hope for him in our judiciary, and those valuable assets shunning politics because this kind of malevolence shall be encouraged to join the game and contribute to restoring our famished land and extricating it from the stranglehold of vultures.
