Tribunal vindicates Plateau Lawmaker, Hon. Nimchak Rims on certificate forgery scandal, return elected

By Daniel Agada, Jos

The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, has on Monday dismissed allegation of certificate forgery scandal peddled against Hon. Nimchak Samson Rims, the member representing Langtang South constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The Tribunal also affirmed the election of Hon. Rims as duly elected member of Langtang South State constituency held on 18th March, 2023, general elections.

Aggrieved by the declaration of 2nd respondent (Hon.Rims) by the 1st respondent (INEC), the 1st and 2nd petitioners (Hon.Bendal Nancwat Domfa and APC) approached the Tribunal in suit number EPT/PL/SHA/08/2023 seeking for redress.

Part of the grievances of the petitioners was that the 2nd respondent, Hon. Nimchak Samson Rims as at the time of the conduct of election for the seat of Langtang South State constituency he was not validly nominated and sponsor by the 3rd respondent (PDP) as PDP doesn’t have a valid structure in Plateau state.

The petitioners also alleged that the 2nd respondent submitted a forged certificate to INEC, and the election of the 2nd respondent was marred by substantial non compliance to the electoral act 2022.

In his unanimous decision, Hon.Justice Mohammed Mohammed revealed that the Tribunal formulated two issues for determination.

Justice Mohammad Mohammad said ground one and issue one of the petition which bother on allegation of certificate forgery and nomination and sponsorship of the 2nd respondent is not true as claimed by the petitioners.

According to the jurist, “there is no any iota of truth that the second respondent forged his certificate.

“The petitioners did show that they have participated in the primary election that produced 2nd respondent, they are noisy busy body and meddlesome interlopers.

“Ground one of the petition is a preelection matter which an aspirant of political party  who contested primary election alongside candidate that emerged is at liberty to lodge a complaint at the Federal High Court within 14 days.”

On allegation of substantial non compliance to the electoral guideline, Justice Mohammad Mohammed held that the burden of prove lies with the petitioners to lay cogent, credible and admissible evidence of prove.

“Based on the evidence adduce before the Tribunal, the petitioners case has not been satisfactory by law and I hereby dismissed the petition for lacking and affirmed the returned of 2nd respondent, Hon.Nimchak Samson Rims as a duly elected member representing Langtang South State in Plateau 10th Assembly.”

Reacting to Tribunal verdict, Hon.Nimchak Samson Rims said, “I am very optimistic even though PDP have not been finding in it easy because of rumors and fake news peddling against I party in the state.I am the most happiest person having been exonerated from allegations of certificate forgery by the Tribunal.

“I want to appreciate the penal of Judges, my team of Lawyers and the entire constituents of Langtang South for the mandate bestow on me to represent then in Plateau 10th Assembly. With this judgment now it is crystal clear that now I can face the reality on ground and bring much anticipated dividends of democracy to my constituency.I called on my opponent to accept defeat and come let join hands together and developed Langi South constituency.

On 200 trucks of fertilizer acquired by the Plateau Government, the Lawmaker acknowledged that It is a well thought initiative demonstrated by Governor Caleb Mutfwang led administration, noting it has been long when the state get such intervention. “With this 200 baby of fertilizer it would go a long way in addressing food security and wealth creation for farmers in the state”.