DSS clears Mbah of NYSC certificate forgery accusation as INEC closes defence

<p>The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday closed its case against Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party (LP) without calling any witness at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu.</p>, <span>Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah. Twitter:@DanNwomeh</span>, <p>The tribunal is hearing the petition filed by Chijioke Edeoga of the LP against the election of Governor Peter Mbah of the PDP.</p>, <p>Edeoga is praying the tribunal to disqualify Mbah over alleged NYSC certificate forgery and manipulation of election results.</p>, <p>When the matter came up for hearing, the INEC counsel, Humphrey Okoli told the tribunal that after thorough review of their case, they decided not to put in any witness.</p>, <p>“Today, the first respondent is mandatory to open their defence, I wish to inform the court that after thorough review of the case, we have decided not to put in any witness,” he said.</p>, <p>Opening his case as was ordered by the court, the counsel to Gov. Peter Mbah of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Onyechi Ikpeazu, called on the first defence witness, Uzo Amaechina, a medical doctor residing in Enugu to testify.</p>, <p>Responding to the LP counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the witness said that the election was conducted according to the provision of the law and the electoral guidelines.</p>, <p>Answering questions from S. T Hon, (SAN), the witness said that he did not tender what he used for the preparation of his report for the court to verify because the petitioners witnesses had already tendered them while testifying.</p>, <p>He added that there was no over voting in Akpofu, Isienu, Amagunze and Umuokwu polling units.</p>, <p>He said he was aware that Mbah engaged in NYSC programme in 2002.</p>, <p>The PDP subpoena witness, Yahaya Muhammed, Deputy Director, State Security Service, Abuja through the counsel to PDP tendered an investigation report to the court on the alleged certificate forgery by Gov Mbah.</p>, <p>Awomolo objected to the admissibility of the docu