The Edo State Election Petitions tribunal yesterday issued a bench warrant on the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) for failing to appear before the tribunal after a subpoena was served on it.
The examination body was subpoenaed to testify in the case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Oredo East constituency, Okoro Osadebamwen.
Okoro, in his petition before the tribunal, alleged that the school certificates from primary to university degree presented by winner of the election, Osagboivo Iyoha, were fake.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, counsel to Iyoha, Eghogho Enahoro informed the tribunal that the subpoena served on WAEC was collected after several attempts, and wondered why the examination body was not in court.
The appearance of WAEC was to enable the defendants close their case.
The three-man panel tribunal, headed by Justice S. Anjo, however, issued a bench warrant against WAEC to appear before the tribunal.
Meanwhile, Iyoha, who was elected on the platform of the APC, appeared before he the tribunal and insisted that the certificates he presented were genuine.
Iyoha said he gained admission to the Edo State University, but as at the time he applied for his certificate, the state government has changed the name of the institution to Ambrose Alli University.
He said the names in all the certificates belonged to him and that Tony was his baptismal name.
Counsel to Okoro, Solomon Odiase, said the defence counsel was using the refusal of WAEC to appear before the tribunal as a ploy to delay justice before the expiration of the 180 days provided in the Electoral Act.