Court okays suit seeking to compel prosecution of minister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha over ‘election results forgery’

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha

A federal high court in Abuja has granted leave to Amobi Ogah, a member of the house of representatives, to apply for an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, over “forgery of election results” in 2023.

M.G. Umar, the presiding judge, granted the permission on September 23, following an ex parte application filed by Ogah, lawmaker representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia state.

BACKGROUND

Dissatisfied with the result, Onyejeocha, a former member of the house of representatives, filed a petition before the election tribunal, seeking the nullification of Ogah’s election.

In September 2023, the tribunal sacked Ogah and declared Onyejeocha winner.

Ogah appealed the verdict, seeking reinstatement.

In November 2023, the court of appeal overturned the tribunal’s decision and restored Ogah’s victory.

In a petition dated April 14, 2024, addressed to Mahmood Yakubu, then INEC chairman, Ogah alleged that Onyejeocha forged some polling unit results presented before the tribunal.

The lawmaker, who chairs the house committee on tuberculosis and malaria, said the delay in petitioning INEC was due to the time required to gather sufficient evidence.

“All persons who applied to your commission were given copies of the result sheets on payment of the prescribed fees. I applied and was given all the aforementioned results with which I defended the petition filed at the election tribunal by Hon. Onyejeocha,” Ogah said. Thecable