Following a law suit challenging the authenticity of his educational qualification, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, has declared that he is ready to appear in court, tagging the allegation a smear campaign aimed at pulling him down.
Last week, Philip Agbese, had gone to court alleging that Sen. Akume did not possess the West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate number SCO39633 allegedly issued to him by Government Secondary School Oturkpo, Benue State in 1971.
He further claimed in a suit, joining WAEC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector General of Police and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as second to fifth defendants, that Sen Akume did not obtain any degree from the University of Ibadan or any recognised university in Nigeria.
But Sen Akume, in a release signed by his Special Assistant on media, Orpin Beckie, branded the allegations as falsehood and appealed to the judiciary to check “the excesses of the likes of this Agbese whose pastime is to abuse the processes of our revered courts.”
According to the release “as a disciplined patriot and law abiding Nigerian, Senator Akume has consequent upon this newspaper report briefed his lawyer and they are accordingly waiting for the court summon.
“Senator Akume has urged Agbese and his likes to direct their energies and “brilliance” to exposing the excruciating ills like hunger, poverty, disease unemployment and corruption plaguing Benue state rather than preoccupying themselves with the syndrome of pulling others down.
“The onus of proof lies with the plaintiff, so Agbese must be armed with the facts to prove this callous but weighty allegation before the court of law.
“This allegation is laughable; but I weep for our country Nigeria because of the brazen manner citizens are allowed to abuse the laws of our land with impunity.
“This allegation is a classical case of a smear campaign on a thorough breed and it is capable of casting doubt in the minds of well meaning citizens and may have the possibility of denting the reputation Distinguished Senator George Akume has built over time. I therefore set out to clear the air as follows.”
The release however chronicled the educational background of the Senator thus: “the distinguished Senator has an unquenchable taste for knowledge and in spite of his modest background his parents enrolled him in L.G.E.D Wanune at a tender age. He thereafter gained entrance into the then Government Secondary School Otobi now Federal Government College Otobi as one of the pioneer students and graduated with Aggregate 21 in 1971.
“These records are still there in the school as well as with the examination authorities for any doubting Thomas who cares to check. It is this excellent showing that propelled him to pursue a higher certificate (HSC) at St. Louis College Jos in the then Plateau State.
“That he gained admission into the Premier University of Ibadan (Jos Campus) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1978 and a Master of Science in Industrial Labour Relations from the same school in 1986 is not in doubt.
“His mandatory one year national assignment took him to Advanced Teachers College Akwanga and he has a discharge certificate.
What with the arrays of distinguished secondary, higher school certificate and university mates in the states and federal civil services, diplomatic corps and even the judiciary will an Agbese set out to demean Senator Akume.
“His successful sojourn in the civil service is not a secret as he rose to the peak and he was severally acknowledged for his diligence and hardwork before he honourably retired.”
Sen Akume represents Benue North West Senatorial district.