Delta APC member sues party, others for N10.5b over alleged forged ‘death’ certificate

A MEMBER of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Christopher Anirah, has filed a N10.3 billion suit against the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the leadership of the party in Delta State over his disqualification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from contesting the National Assembly election on March 28, 2015 based on the result of an alleged forged death certificate which was reportedly submitted by the party to the electoral umpire.

Anirah, who was supposed to run as the APC House of Representatives candidate for the Sapele/Okpe/Uwvie Federal Constituency of Delta State in the election, filed the suit before Justice C. M. Olatoregun-Isola of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State capital.

In the writ of summons to the respondents dated May 27, 2015, the court had given the defendants 30 days to appear before it and defend themselves against the plaintiff’s allegations and claims.

Curiously, when the case came up for mention on July 1, 2015 after the expiration of the 30-day notice, none of the defendants was in court either in person or by proxies.

In the suit number FHC/ASB/CS/47/2015, the plaintiff accused the defendants of falsifying his death certificate in order to substitute his name with another member of the party, Mr. Gibson Akporehe, who was eventually fielded by the party in the election.

According to plaintiff, who was returned winner of the APC House of Representatives primary for Sapele/Okpe/Uwvie Federal Constituency on December 7, 2014, the party leaders procured a fake death certificate and other spurious documents, which they sent to INEC to effect his substitution.

He is therefore asking the court to award the sum of N10.5 billion against the respondents as general damages “for the shame, disgrace, trauma, stigmatisation and loss of fame” suffered by him and members of his family as a result of the “conspiracy”.

The complainant is also demanding the sum of N2 million he used in purchasing the nomination form, and another N300 million being the total sum spent on campaigns in the 31 wards of the constituency prior to the election.

Other defendants in the suit include the APC governorship candidate in Delta State, Chief Otega Emerhor, the state APC Chairman, Mr. Jones Erhue and the state Deputy Chairman, Mr. Cyril Ogodo.

The state Secretary, Mr. Chidi Okonji; Mr. Gibson Akporehe; INEC and other top APC leaders in Delta State are also joined as respondents.

Justice Olatoregun-Isola had earlier slated September 25 for definite hearing but was later adjourned to tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27 as a result of the Sallah holiday.