The Department of State Service (DSS) has confirmed that there was an alteration in the exemption certificate issued by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo on Monday, June 1.
This confirmation comes after Vijah Opuama, the candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa, petitioned the tribunal. He alleged that Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged exemption certificate and documents containing false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.
Abdulsalam Ibrahim, representing DSS’ Director General at the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja, revealed that the alteration was uncovered following an order from an Abuja court for an investigation into the allegation of forgery against the Deputy Governor.
“Based on the foregoing and the relevant documents forwarded to this service, it is evident that the subject altered the spelling of his surname to reflect the letter D as against the letter O in the certificate of exception earlier issued by NYSC.”
Under cross-examination by Emmanuel Enoidem, the lawyer to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim confirmed that the alteration in the certificate was made by the NYSC upon the request by Ewhrudjakpo. He also agreed that the bearer of a name knows how best to spell his/her name.
“It is based on this recent finding, that we wish to bring to the notice of the DSS that we (the NYSC) corrected the certificate of exemption to read Ewhrudjakpo. Only the last letter A was corrected to read letter O.”
The DSS senior official also identified an attachment to the report as “Annexture 2,” which he explained “is a letter to the NYSC seeking a request for correction, following which the correction was now made.”
Following Ibrahim’s testimony, the petitioner’s lawyer Pius Danbe Pius stated that the next witness is Ewhrudjakpo, who has been subpoenaed to produce the original copy of the certificate of exemption.
The case was adjourned until Tuesday, June 2 by the tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Siraj. It is expected that the hearing of a motion by Ewhrudjakpo, challenging his invitation as the petitioner’s witness will be heard on the said date.