Bayelsa : Deputy governor cleared of certificate forgery

The Deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has been cleared of the alleged forgery of his exemption certificate by the National Youth Service Corps. 

This was made known by the lawyer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting Abuja.

Bawa gave this as the reason for his decision not to call any defence witness in the case.

The petitioner, Vijah Opuama, who contested the November 16, 2019 governorship election on the platform of the Liberation Movement, a party that was later deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission in February this year, had asked the tribunal to disqualify Ewhrujakpo for forgery of a National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate.

He also urged the tribunal to cancel the November 16, 2019 Bayelsa state governorship election and order a fresh poll. Opuama had closed his case on June 9.

Justice Ibrahim Sirajo-led three-man tribunal admitted as exhibit, a letter from the NYSC to the Department of State Security confirming that it corrected a spelling error on Ewrhrudakpo’s exemption certificate which the petitioner challenged as forged.

At the resumed hearing in the case on Friday, INEC’s lawyer, Bawa, said there was no need to call any witness since NYSC had admitted it issued the certificate.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party’s lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Enoedem, said the NYSC’s letter had exonerated Ewhrudjakpo.

The tribunal adjourned till June 17 for further hearing. The Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, and his deputy will take their turns to call their defence.

Graphic: Lady empties a pot of hot water on her sleeping husband in Bayelsa

A man, identified as Oyinkro Miebode, got more than he bargained for on June 3, 2020, as his wife, Maureen, emptied a pot of hot water on him while sleeping at their home along INEC Road, Kpansia, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

According to reports, trouble started on the evening of the previous day, when he slapped her for raining insults on him because he came too early to meet her somewhere in town.

They had agreed to meet at 8pm, but because he closed early from work and got a lift from his boss, he got to their agreed meeting place by 7pm. .

While hanging around till it is 8pm, he saw Maureen walking past him, so he ran to her to notify her of his presence, but instead, she got angry that he came earlier than they agreed. According to him: 

“In shock, I then asked why she was angry that I came early. That was when she started accusing me of monitoring her. She insulted me till we got home.

I thought that we could settle the matter at home but it was hell. So out of anger, I gave her two warning slaps and instructed her to go to the bedroom and sleep.

At that point, a friend called me to come to his place for a private birthday party, and unfortunately, I came back home at about 1 am. So I was sleeping on the sofa in my living room when suddenly she bathed me with hot water.”

The wife fled home immediately but has been calling and asking the family forgiveness, noting that it was the devil that pushed her.

Photo credit - Instablog