A High Court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday dismissed the certificate forgery case filed against the Kwara State governor, AbdullRahman AbdulRazak, following the claimant’s application to withdraw the case.
Delivering judgment, Justice Adenike Akinpelu, struck out the case after Adekunle Abraham, a member of the PDP who filed the case, told the court he had presented a notice of withdrawal of the case.
Akinpelu held that the withdrawal means that, the efforts of one Olusola Olaseinde who wanted to join the suit were inconsequential since the original case has been withdrawn.
AbdulRazaq had repeatedly said the case was politically motivated and meant to stop him from contesting the March 9 governorship poll, adding that the claimant was acting out a script from his political adversary.
The governor had won several court cases filed by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by one Ishola Balogun-Fulani, an ally of the former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Balogun-Fulani had filed a suit challenging the candidature of AbdulRazaq, but the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court dismissed the case, affirming that the Governor was rightly nominated by the APC National Working Committee led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Following the dismissal of Balogun-Fulani’s case, a member of the Saraki-led PDP, filed a case alleging that
AbdulRazaq did not have the requisite qualifications to run for the office of Governor.
Reacting to the dismissal of the case, Gov. AbdulRazaq expressed his commitment to build a state that works for everyone, irrespective of political differences.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said that the withdrawal and eventual dismissal of the case was not a surprise.
“We were not in the least disturbed by the case because it was clear to everyone on the street that it was baseless”.
According to him, since the case has died a natural death, the governor is again extending his hand of friendship to every Kwara resident to join his efforts to build a state that works for all.
“It is time to work to restore the glory of our dear state. As everyone can see, things hitherto considered impossible are now happening.
“Water is running, roads are being fixed and the governor is giving hope to every segment of the state that a new Kwara is possible!
“Finally, we thank the good people of the state for the solidarity and love they have continued to show for the governor and the new government,” the statement added.
