An official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), who appeared at the Ogun State election petition tribunal on Thursday, told the panel that “the requested certificate is not here with me”.
The examination council had been subpoenaed by the tribunal to produce a duplicate of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s WAEC certificate.
The official, Mr. Olufemi Olaleye, appeared before the tribunal sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, but was not sworn to oath nor was he allowed to enter the witness box.
However, Olaleye was allowed to tender in evidence, a copy of the subpoena issued to the commission, upon which he was at the tribunal.
Olaleye told the tribunal he did not bring the requested certificate “because the council does not keep duplicates of collected WAEC certificates”.
He stated that to confirm whether or not somebody partook in the council’s examination, “the original certificate given to the candidate will be forwarded to WAEC” for verification.
Olaleye was discharged immediately he was recorded as having testified before the tribunal as PW73.
Asked outside the courtroom to give further explanations on why WAEC did not produce the requested certificate, Olaleye tersely replied: “My lips are sealed.”
