Port Harcourt High Court has adjourned sitting on a case of alleged law degree certificate forgery by a cleric, Rev. Philip Madu, popularly known as ‘Okunerere’, the General Overseer of Adoration Family Ministries, located at  Elimgbu in Obio-Akpor Council of Rivers  State till  June 23.   
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The presiding judge, Justice C. Nwogu, was unable to take oral evidence from  the cleric during its earlier scheduled date at the weekend and consequently,   the case was adjourned.
 
The principal counsel from Iheoma Chambers, Rumuomasi Port Harcourt, N.E. Ofoegbu is the counsel for the claimants. The law degree certificate verification came up during ongoing litigation on the ownership of seven plots of land in Suit No. PHC/4450/CS/2020 with George Oparanozie and Bernard Oparanozie as claimants while Rev. Madu is the sole defendant.
 
Madu had addressed himself in his deposed affidavit as a learned lawyer, which attracted the attention of the court and he was asked by the presiding judge to properly address himself with the presentation of copies of originals of his law degree certificate, which he claimed was obtained from Nasarawa State University and the call-to-bar certificate issued by the Nigerian Law School.
 
Discrepancies were observed in certificates presented through his counsel, Biobele W. Georgewill to the court. It was observed that the Nasarawa State University law degree certificate bears the name, Francis Philip Madu, while the Nigerian Law School call-to-bar certificate has Philip Francis and  his deposed affidavit states that his name is Rev. Philip Madu.
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The three names, when cross-checked from the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 graduation lists from the Faculty of Law in the university institution could not be allegedly found.

Sequel to the findings, the lead counsel for the claimants requested to conduct oral evidence on Madu, who is often represented by his counsel.

In the documents made available to newsmen, entitled: ‘Further affidavit in support of the motion on stay of proceedings,’ released on March 16, 2022, he averred that “contrary to paragraph two of the claimant/respondents’ counter affidavit, I verily believe that no oral evidence is required  to resolve the proposition that I undertook legal training. Exhibit herewith and marked as Exhibit DA are my LLB and BL certificates.”
However, Justice Nwogu will, on the adjourned date, decide on the oral evidence.
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