SaharaReporters has obtained documents showing that Sabo Garba, a member of the House of Representatives from Yobe State, forged his education certificate to enable him to be eligible to run for office as a federal legislator. Our correspondents obtained the documents, which came to light during a fierce legal battle with his All Progressives Congress (APC) contender, Ali Yakubu.
According to a legal order issued by the Election Tribunal Chairman for Yobe State, Justice E.F. Ikponmwen, Mr. Garba’s election “is hereby nullified on the ground that he was not qualified to contest the election for membership into the Federal House of Representatives for Nengere/Potiskum Federal Constituency of Yobe State.”
The order then stated that “Sabo Garba is hereby ordered to vacate the seat” originally awarded to him in the March 28th elections.
Justice Ikponmwen declared the first petitioner, Ali Yakubu, the winner of the election into the House of Representatives, stating that the petitioner “scored the next majority [of] lawful votes cast.”
In addition to the forged certificate, SaharaReporters also obtained a letter dated May 11, 2015 from the National Teachers’ Institute which confirmed that Mr. Sabo’s name was not on the list of students who sat for examination in 1984 and that “the photocopy of certificate attached to your letter was not issued by the Institute, it was a certificate that bears the stamp of the Ministry of Education Borno State.”
The NTI letter then stated that it was “advisable that you seek clarification as to the authenticity of the certificate from the said Ministry.”
