Ex Minister, Musiliu Obanikoro’s Guber Ambition Runs Into Another Storm As Party Members Dredge Up ‘Forgery & Dual Citizenship Charges’

…real reason behind the court case

The gubernatorial ambition of ex minister and serial contender, Musiliu Obanikoro has run into another storm.

Some members of his People’s Democratic Party just dredged up old charges against him – and initiated a court case to bar him from contesting the party’s December 8 2014 primary election – and the main election.

For emphasis, the initiators of the suit listed PDP and electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as co defenders.

The revamped charges against the man that resigned his Federal Appointment in pursuit of his evergreen gubernatorial interest centres on ‘forgery (age falsefication) and dual citizenship’.

This development comes despite the fact that Obanikoro has faced and addressed- with documents – same allegations in the past.

Findings however revealed, the strength of the recent ploy to stop Obanikoro lies out of antics in the court room.

According to a source ‘ the ploy is to create legal obstacle for Obanikoro…to raise legal problems for him during, and after the primaries, even if he wins

The plot is to create that window of a possible ouster via the court room no matter how far he progresses in the election’

The ex minister faces a tense primaries that sees he go headlong with equally powerful politician, Bode George who backs another aspirant, Jimi Agbaje.

Both Obanikore and George have been engaged in deep seethed rivalry over who clinches the PDP gubernatorial ticket in Lagos state.

(Here is a link for background http://societynowng.com/Musiliu-Obanikoro-Son-Jide-Gets-Party-Nod-To-Seek-House-Of-Assembly-Ticket-As-Father-Battle-To-Fly-Guber-Flag-Becomes-More-Inten)

Further digs however revealed those behind the dredged up charges against Obanikoro as Michael Babatunde Ogun, Suleiman Olayinka Saheed and Wasiu Adeniyi Odusan.

Further revelations revealed the case is yet to heard.

Here is a reproduction of the issues raise in the suit instituted at an Ikeja High Court.

* Whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of Section 182(1) (a) (j) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 1st responded (Obanikoro) having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America in addition to the citizenship of Nigeria, is eligible to present himself for nomination as a candidate in the governorship primaries of the 3rd respondent (PDP) or any other registered political party for the purpose of contesting on the platform of the PDP or any other political party registered in Nigeria for the purpose of contesting the 2015 elections in Lagos State or any subsequent elections in Nigeria.

*Whether upon a proper construction of Section 182 (1) (j) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the 1st respondent having previously presented a forged birth certificate to INEC in the April 2007 general elections for the office of Governor of Lagos State is eligible to present himself for nomination as a candidate in the governorship primaries of the 3rd respondent or any other registered political party for the purpose of contesting on the platform of the PDP or any other political party registered in Nigeria for the purpose of contesting the 2015 elections in Lagos State or any subsequent elections in Nigeria.

*Whether upon a proper construction of Section 31 (2) (50 (6) and (8) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the applicants have locus standi to institute this present proceedings against the respondents and that the 1st respondent (Obanikoro) is not qualified to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election of the PDP scheduled for the 8th of December 2014 or any other date for the selection of its candidate for the Lagos State Governorship elections scheduled to hold in 2015 or any other date.

*Whether having regards to Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, paragraph 4 (a) of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2010 of the 3rd respondent, the 1st respondent is qualified to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election of the 3rd respondent scheduled for the 8th of December.

*Whether upon a proper construction of Sections 10 (1), (j),(k), 49(2),50(1), 50 (2) of the Constitution of the 3rd respondent, t6he 1st respondent is eligible to present himself for nomination as a candidate in the governorship primaries of the PDP for the purpose of vying for nomination as a gubernatorial candidate of the 3rd respondent with a view to contesting the 2015 elections.

*A declaration that based on the dictates of paragraph 4(a) of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2014 of the 3rd respondent and the antecedents of the 1st respondent particularized in the applicants’ affidavit in support of the originating summons, the 1st respondent is not eligible to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election of the 3rd respondent scheduled for the 8th of December.

*An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st respondent from participating in the governorship primaries of the 3rd respondent or in the alternative any of the registered political parties in Nigeria.

Further information sourced from online platform, theeagleonline revealed

‘In an affidavit differently deposed to by Ogun, Saheed and Odusan, they particularly asked the court restrain both the PDP and the INEC from nominating or accepting Obanikoro’s candidacy for ‘the purpose of the 2015 governorship elections in Lagos State or any subsequent elections in Nigeria.

For instance, Ogun, in his affidavit, said Obanikoro was not fit to vie for the 2015 gubernatorial primaries, hence he must be barred from participating in the December 8 primaries of the party.

He said: “Obanikoro deliberately declared falsely in answer to question 9 part B of the aforementioned affidavit when asked whether he had changed his nationality in the past and if so, what the nationality was, by answering “that is not applicable” when he knew that he had in actual fact acquired the citizenship of the United States of America as contained in his American Passport No.025317195 issued on June 16 1995.

“Also, Obanikoro deliberately falsified his date of birth and age as the 28th of July 1954 and 52 years respectively notwithstanding the fact that Obanikoro knew that his official Nigerian passport and his diplomatic passport No.F0004473 and D0002471 respectively show contrarily that his actual date of birth is the 28th of July 1960.

“His American Passport and application for admission to the Texas Southern University, Houston Texas including extracts from Obanikoro’s marriage records to one Jewel M. Weller in the Harris County 1982 Marriage Records support the assertion that Obanikoro’s actual date of birth is 28th July 1960 as opposed to false declaration of 28th July 1954.

“And that unless Obanikoro is perpetually restrained from participating in the scheduled governorship primaries of my party, the PDP which is to take place on the 8th of December 2014, the interest of the applicants as stakeholders and the overriding interest of the PDP including the quality and character of the political space would be seriously endangered.”.