By Danlami Nmodu
Human Rights Activist,
Festus Keyamo has filed a suit against the West African Examinations Council,WAEC for its failure to release the Certified True Copy,CTC of Senator Hope Uzodinma’s certificate. In the motion ex parte , Keyamo seeks the following orders from the Federal High Court in Lagos:
“An Order, granting leave to the Applicant to apply for Judicial Review for an Order of Mandamus compelling the Respondent to produce the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Hope Uzodinma to the Applicant, in accordance with Section 1(1), (2), & (4) of The Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
“And for such further order or other orders as this Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this Application.
The reliefs sought by the applicant include”An Order granting leave to the Applicant to apply for Judicial Review for an Order of Mandamus compelling the Respondent to produce the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Hope Uzodinma to the Applicant, in accordance with Section 1(1), (2), & (4) Of The Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
“And For Such Further Order Or Other Orders as this Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this Application.
On the grounds for the reliefs, the document said “The Applicant pursuant to Section 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2011 has with a letter dated 14th May, 2013 applied to the Respondent to produce the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Hope Uzodinma to the Applicant.
The Respondent (WAEC)has ignored and/or refused to produce the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Hope Uzodinma to the Applicant in accordance with Section 4 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011.
Keyamo outlined the facts leading to the application among others thus: “Hope Uzodinma, a Senator of the Federal republic of Nigeria has always claimed to be an Alumni of Mgbidi Boys High School, Imo State from where he allegedly obtained his West African Senior School Certificate in 1982.
“The said Hope Uzodinma claimed to have graduated from the Mgbidi Boys High School, Imo State in 1982.
“That inquiry and investigation into the names and persons that graduated in that year has revealed that Senator Hope Uzodinma was not a graduate of the school in 1982.
“Consequent upon the legal activities of the Applicant, there has arisen a need to verify the claims of Hope Uzodinma by the Certified True Copy of his West African Senior School Certificate.
“The Applicant is an active legal practitioner and a senior member of Nigeria Bar Association that has resolved to fight and expose corruption in public places in Nigeria and is passionately involved in legal activities for the protection of human right.
“By a letter dated 14th day of May, 2013 served on the Respondent on the 24th day of June, 2013 the Applicant has applied for the production of the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Senator Hope Uzodinma. Attached a marked exhibit “A” is the acknowledged copy of the said letter dated 14th May, 2013.
“On the 1st day of July, 2013 at 10.00am Festus Afeiyodion, a Counsel in Chambers visited the Respondent’s office with a view of collecting the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Senator Hope Uzodinma but he was left unattended to till the close of work.
“The Respondent has ignored and/or refused to produce the Certified True Copy of the West African Senior School Certificate of Hope Uzodinma.
Attempts to hear from Uzodinma failed as he did not pick a call to his telephone number,neither did he respond to an sms.
