Census tribunal orders recount in Lagos council area

The Census Tribunal on Friday invalidated the 2006 enumeration figure for Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State as declared by the National Population Commission (NPC).

The commission had declared the council`s population figure as 609,173 in the 2006 National Population and Household Census conducted between March 21 and March 27, 2006.

The Chairman of the Census Tribunal `C’, Mrs Mary Obegolu, said the tribunal invalidated the figure because the NPC failed to counter the claims of non-enumeration of some localities within the council.

Obegolu held that the respondent also failed to give concrete evidence to back up its claims that enumeration took place in the contested areas.

She said that the complainant convinced the tribunal by featuring some witnesses who testified that their households were not enumerated.

According to her, the respondent has failed to discharge the burden of proof on a preponderance of evidence stressing that it failed to give account of the contested areas.

The chairman further said that the tribunal being a fact finding one, does not rely on presumption in determining cases but on facts.

“The tribunal is satisfied with the complainant’s witnesses evidence and declare the population figure of 609,173 declared by the respondent faulty, inaccurate and unsustainable.

“The tribunal, therefore, holds that the complainant claims succeeds and further declare the population figure null and void,’’ Obegolu said.

NAN recalls that the council challenged the enumeration figure, alleging that some of its localities were not counted by the official during the exercise.

It also alleged that the figure was grossly inaccurate pleading on the tribunal to order the commission to do a recount of the areas not counted.