3rd March, 2020
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva said the Supreme Court has set a dangerous precedent on the Bayelsa election by rushing to condemn the deputy governor-elect of certificate forgery, when no verification was done or the man given a fair hearing.
“If you have a case in court challenging the authenticity of the certificate of a candidate, that is a different one but if you say it is a case of forgery and you have not heard from the person concerned, then you have not established anything.
“You haven’t gone to school or university where this person studied to confirm the veracity of the allegation but you already condemn the person, it’s is very sad and dangerous”, Sylva said on Channels TV Sunrise daily programme on Monday.
He said the Deputy Governor-elect whose alleged certificate forgery cost the All Progressives Congress the Bayelsa State governorship seat, is on the verge of committing suicide.
“If someone said you forged your certificate and you have built your life and integrity and someone all of a sudden brings everything down, that can lead to suicide”, he said.
“I’m dealing with a former deputy governor that is on the verge of committing suicide. Every day I had to call to find out that he hasn’t done anything to himself.
The minister described the Supreme Court judgment as unfair, saying the matter was not a criminal one and should not have been treated in such a manner.
The governor-elect, David Lyon; and the deputy governor-elect, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, were sacked by the Supreme Court on the eve of their inauguration while the Peoples Democratic Party took over the leadership of the state.