Forensic investigation into the documents submitted by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Sheriff Oborevwori, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appear to show some discrepancies, according to court documents obtained by The Story.
In the District Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Hon Evance O. Ivwurie has filed a complaint against Oborevwori alleging identity theft, impersonation, and forgery. Oborevwori is running for governor of Delta State on the PDP ticket.
“The Defendant, in 2015 and 2019, represented himself to the Peoples Democratic Party, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the people of Delta State at large, that he attended Ogherehi Grammar School from 1996 to 1999, where he allegedly obtained his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Certificate,” Ivwurie had claimed in his claims. It is hereby pleaded and relied upon that a certified true copy of the certificate from the INEC records be used.
“The People’s Democratic Party accepted the defendant’s nomination and participation in the 2015 and 2019 elections after being persuaded by the defendant’s presentation.
“Independent National Electoral Commission, also persuaded by the Defendant’s representation, accepted the Defendant’s participation as a candidate in the 2015 and 2019 State House of Assembly Election, and upon the Defendant’s victory in the aforesaid election, issued the Defendant with the necessary certificate of return.
“The complainant discovered certain anomalies in the defendant’s records while advocating for good governance,”
While the defendant’s record with INEC indicates that he claims to have been born on June 19, 1963, the WASSCE Certificate of 1999 that the defendant provided lists his birthdate as November 12, 1979.
While the name of the defendant is “Oborovwori O. Francis” on the aforementioned WASSCE Certificate, it is “Oborssvwon Sheriff Francis Orowhordor” on record with INEC.
When the complainant compared the Defendant’s record with INEC to the above-mentioned apparent anomalies regarding the age and name on the WASSCE Certificate that the Defendant submitted, she became concerned that the Defendant may have committed a crime. This suspicion prompted the complainant to start looking into the defendant’s credentials.
During the investigation, a few students who attended and graduated from Oghareki Grammar School in 1999, the same year the defendant is said to have attended and graduated from the school, voluntarily provided statements to the investigation team and also deposed to an affidavit.
None of the pupils at the school, who graduated in 1999, had any recollection of the defendant’s attendance there at any point. The aforementioned pupils claimed that the defendant was never a member of their class up until they graduated in 1999 in their declarations and affidavits.
In keeping with his intention to fight for effective government in his state (Delta State), the Complainant herein has now filed this Direct Criminal Complaint against the Defendant.
According to court documents, the police intervened in the situation by performing a forensic study of the picture on Oborevwori’s WASSCE certificate that was submitted to INEC as well as the picture on his application to the electoral body.
A case of identity theft, impersonation, and forgery against Oborevwori was requested to be looked into by the Commissioner of Police, Forensic Science Laboratory, in a letter from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Department of Intelligence, dated July 21, 2022.
The court documents stated that the forensic investigation by Apex Forensic Limited, dated July 25, 2022 and addressed to the IRT Deputy Commissioner of Police, revealed that the passport photo on the form and the one on the WASSCE certificate the Speaker submitted to INEC are two distinct individual passport photographs. According to Vanguard report.
