The Department of State Services on Monday said that its investigation revealed alteration in the exemption certificate issued by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo.
According to the Head, Legal Department, DSS, Abdulsalam Ibrahim, who represented DSS’ Director-General, before the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal, the alteration was done by the NYSC at Ewhrudjakpo’s instance.
Ibrahim was at the tribunal to tender documents and testify for the petitioner upon a subpoena issued on the DG, DSS by the tribunal.
The candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa, Vijah Opuama, had petitioned the tribunal, alleging that Ewhrudjakpo submitted forged exemption certificate and documents that contain false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.
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Ibrahim, led in evidence by petitioner’s lawyer, Pius Danbe Pius, said, “My lord, on the 22nd of February 2020, we received a letter from an Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja asking the DSS to investigate the NYSC exemption certificate of Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the present deputy governor of Bayelsa State.”
He said his agency investigated by reaching out to the NYSC. He said the DG, NYSC wrote to the DG, DSS confirming an alteration in the surname in the exemption certificate issued Ewhrudjakpo.
