An opposition leader Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna state, Isah Ashiru, accused of falsifying certificates, was acquitted by a state court.
The former member of the House of Representatives was accused of presenting false certificates to the INEC by a member of the PPD in the state.
Mr. Ashiru, who was the PDP candidate in 2019, denied the accusation in the election.
“All my educational results and certificates are authentic. There are none that I have any doubts about. I wrote my WAEC and entered the polytechnic in Katsina. Then I did my HND at Kaduna Polytechnic. I also did my PGD (graduate studies) at Kaduna Polytechnic and participated in the mandatory NYSC. I served in Borno State,” he told PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr. Ashiru’s Campaign Organisation’s Director of Legal Services, Husaini Abdu, said he has been approved and is therefore qualified to run in the PDP primaries in Kaduna.
A recent ruling by the Zaria High Court has dismissed accusations of false results and not having the minimum educational qualification to compete for the governorship, instituted against him by a PDP member, Isah Abdullahi.
Abdu said: “We are compiling the list of those who have smeared the candidate for prosecution, except that they retract their statement, publish a retraction in two national newspapers and take further steps to show remorse for their action.
Court ordered apology
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Rt. Hon. Isah Ashiru in Kaduna 1 High Court sitting in Zaria, claiming that he does not have the minimum educational qualification to run for Governor in Kaduna State and seeking some relief.
“But Ashiru filed a counterclaim seeking to be declared fit and qualified to contest and seeking N1 million damages for defamation of his character.
“Rta. Honorable Isah Ashiru submitted six documents, including her GCE certificate which was issued to her in January 1980 by Kufena College, Zaria. A national diploma and a higher national diploma from a polytechnic, a PGD and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Bayero, Kano”.
According to Abdu, the lawsuit was dismissed by Judge MK Dabo on May 9.
ALSO READ: Zamfara PDP denies suspension of its president
“The case was dismissed, not struck down, so it can’t be sent back to court forever except appealed, and to the best of our knowledge, at this point, it hasn’t been appealed.
“The actor has fulfilled part of the sentences by publishing a retraction in a newspaper of national circulation but he still has to publish the second one and pay damages to the defendant.” Abdu concluded.
PREMIUM TIMES has obtained a newspaper clipping signed by Mr. Isah, apologizing to Mr. Ashiru as instructed by the court.
Other candidates for the PDP
Ashiru is said to be the preferred candidate of a former Kaduna governor and PDP leader, Ahmed Makarfi.
Also in the running are a former NEMA chief, Sani Sidi, and former senators, Shehu Sani and Datti Baba-Ahmed.