Forgery: Judge orders parties to file pleadings

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered parties to file their pleadings within seven days in a suit by Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette.

Ekaette is challenging the eligibility of a former Minister of Environment, Helen Esuene, to run as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial District, having been allegedly disqualified for presenting false certificates.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Justice Abdul Kafarati said the matter was one that should not be heard on documentary evidence but with oral evidence. He, therefore, abridged the time within which parties are to file their processes to seven days.

He therefore ordered parties in the matter to file their pleadings and adjourned the matter till April 19

Senator Ekaette had gone to the court to challenge the eligibility of Esuene to run as the candidate of the PDP for Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial Disrict on the grounds that she was disqualified by the party’s screening committee for presenting forged certificates and was allowed by the skewed panel to contest.