By Alemma Aliu

The newly elected lawmaker representing Ovia North East Constituency I of the Edo State House of Assembly,  Dumez Onaiwu Ugiagbe has been accused by his opponent, Nosa Omoregie of forging his Secondary School Leaving Certificate,  alleging that he was not the person that sat for the examination.

Omoregie, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  member alleged at a briefing in Benin City, that Ugiagbe of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was frustrating police investigation by writing a counter-petition to the Inspector General of Police while he was yet to appear before the police in Edo State to respond to the allegation of forgery.

But reacting, Ugiagbe denied the allegation, saying that Omoregie was a bad loser in the election. He said: “I own my certificate and the matter is already in court. He went to police and influenced one Blessing to write a petition against me and as the matter is going on, they have not taken my statement, they say they have concluded their investigation. I don’t have confidence in the police here in Benin anymore, hence I told my lawyer to write to Abuja so that the matter can be investigated properly. All he is saying is not true. The matter is in court and my lawyer is handling it. Since he has lost the election, he should take it in good faith than raising the issue of the forged certificate.”

ALSO READ: Bauchi election petition tribunal receives 26 petitions

Meanwhile,  Omoregie alleged that WAEC confirmed that the picture of the candidate in its record was not the same as the one in the certificate.

“This clearly confirms that Dumez did not sit for the examination rather he contracted someone to impersonate him to write the exam for him. I want to say that notwithstanding the attempt by Dumez to truncate the process of justice, the truth must prevail. He has only succeeded in delaying the evil day as he must be brought to answer for his crime.”