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Forgery Scandal Rocks President Tinubu’s Cabinet as Court Wants INEC to Prosecute Labour Minister, Onyejeocha
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By Gloria Ikibah
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a member of the House of Representatives, representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia state, Rep. Amobi Godwin Ogah to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute the Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha for alleged forgery of election results in 62 polling units during the 2023 general elections.
In his ruling dated September 23, 2025, Justice M.G. Umar of the Abuja Federal High Court, in an ex-parte motion brought by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah said he was satisfied that the applicant has placed relevant materials in his affidavit to warrant the judgment.
Hon. Onyejeocha had dragged Hon. Ogah to the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal after the 2023 elections claiming victory. But Ogah accused her of forging the results she tendered before the tribunal and Onyejeocha eventually lost the case.
While Ogah contested on the platform of Labour Party, Onyejeocha was the APC candidate in the elections.
Ogah, thereafter proceeded to the High Court seeking the leave to apply for an Order of Mandamus against INEC to prosecute Onyejeocha, now a minister for alleged forgery of results.
The lawmaker had alleged that after he was declared winner of the federal constituency by INEC, “Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha forged the results in respect of the polling units listed, which results were tendered during the trial of the petition at the Election Tribunal to prove the allegations contained in the petition.
“That Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha forged Exhibit 3 and passed them off as the official election results and documents of the respondent, and, the respondent vehemently disputed the authenticity of Exhibit 3 during the trial of the Election Petition.
“That Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha even attempted to deceive the judiciary by presenting the forged documents i.e. Exhibit 3 to the Election Tribunal and Court of Appeal as documents that were issued by the respondent”, it read.
In granting the lawmaker the go ahead to apply to INEC for the prosecution of Onyejeocha, Justice M.G. Umar said “I have considered Order 34 Rules 1,3 and 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 upon which this application is based and I am of the view that it is trite that application of this nature where the Court is required to exercise discretion, it must be so considered judicially and judiciously.
“Consequently, I am satisfied that the applicant (Ogah) has placed relevant materials in th affidavit in support of this application and this court is there by persuaded to exercise discretion in favour the
“An order is here by made granting leave to the applicant to apply for an Order of Mandamus against the respondent compelling the respondent (INEC) to investigate and prosecute Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha for the electoral offence of forging the election results of the polling units within the Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia state”, it added.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has slashed its fuel pump price for the second time within four days.
A market survey on Saturday by DAILY POST showed that NNPCL retail outlets around Airport Junction and Wuse Zone 6 (Berger) in Abuja have reduced their petrol price to N1210 per litre, down from N1260.
This means that the state-owned oil firm slashed the petrol price by N50 per litre.
This comes barely two days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N50 to N1,125 per litre.
Recall that four days ago, NNPCL had adjusted its fuel price pump by N75 per litre to N1260.
With the latest drop by NNPCL retail outlets, petrol prices stand between N1210 per litre and N1305 per litre in Abuja and its environs.
The reduction in domestic fuel comes amid falling crude oil prices, which stand at $69 per barrel and $71 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude, respectively, following the easing of the conflict in the Middle East.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu has kept mum amid the clamour by Nigerians for a commensurate drop in domestic fuel pump prices due to the significant reduction in crude oil prices.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the Federal High Court judgment that set aside an earlier order directing it to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, as a political party.
INEC revealed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
According to the commission, although it is aware of media reports on the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on June 26, it cannot comment on the ruling until it obtains and reviews the certified copy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is aware of reports circulating in the media regarding the judgment delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside an earlier order concerning the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
“However, as of this moment, the Commission has not yet received the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the court’s order,” the statement said.
INEC stated that its legal department would study the judgment upon receipt of the CTC before advising the commission on the next course of action.
“Once the Commission’s legal department receives and thoroughly studies the CTC of the judgment, INEC will take an informed, lawful decision in line with the court’s directives.
“Until then, we cannot comment on the specifics of the ruling, and the public is urged to await the Commission’s formal position on the matter,” Oketola added.
Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja had on Friday set aside the court’s December 10, 2025, judgment directing INEC to register the NDC as a political party.
The court held that the rights of the Peace Movement Party were affected by the earlier judgment because it was not joined in the suit despite claiming ownership of the logo relied upon in securing the registration order.
Justice Dashen consequently ordered that all parties be restored to the positions they occupied before the December 2025 judgment and directed that the substantive suit be heard afresh with all necessary parties joined.
The NDC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to appeal the decision. Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, maintained that the party had not been deregistered and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revisit a matter on which it had already delivered a final judgment.
The ruling has also attracted reactions from opposition figures, including the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Dickson, and other stakeholders, who described the decision as a threat to Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and vowed to challenge it through all available legal channels.
INEC, however, maintained that it would reserve its position on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy.
A joint police operation rescued five victims abducted near Ogbere Forest in Ogun state on Wednesday.
They were rescued within 25 hours by the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands, which were part of a joint operation codenamed KOSAYE, meaning “No Space” in Yoruba.
The woman was among the victims who were shot in the incident. Her daughter and sister were among those rescued by the police on Thursday.
NNPC slashes petrol price twice within four days
Lokoja Court order: INEC speaks on NDC, says it’s yet to receive CTC
Just in: Police rescue five abductees in Ogun
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