A human rights body, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has raised a fresh alarm over an alleged forgery scandal leveled against deposed new Alawo of Awo, Mr. Adegboye Taiwo Rasaq, alleging him as a career and serial forger.
It would be recalled that the Appeal Court, Akure Judicial Division had earlier nullified the illegal appointment and subsequent installation of Adegboye Taiwo Rasaq as new Alawo by the Gboyega Oyetola’s Government in September 13th,2021, through its landmark Judgement dated 8th day of August, 2022 by stopping Adegboye from wearing any insignia or parading himself as new Alawo henceforth.
CHRSJ disclosed that it discovered new particulars of forgery of Taiwo Adegboye, which he used for his illegal and void selection, appointment, approval and subsequent installation as new Alawo through the documents attached to his Expression of Interest Form Number: 000000114, in respect of Alawo Stool.
Apart from forgery of selection documents with different thumbprint impressions and signatures of the Mogaji/ Head, Alhaji Abdulkareem Adegboye and Secretary, Alhaji (Prince) Abidoye Hamzat Gboyelade/Prince (Alhaji) Hamzat Abidoye/Hamsat Abidoye of Abioye Ruling House/Compound,Awo respectively.
He forged Selection Minutes of meeting credited to Abioye Ruling House/Compound, Awo, dated 24th of August, 2020, in his favour by sitting at the comfort of his room in the year 2020 and writing the Selection Minutes in his own favour because of his position then as Legislative Leader of the APC controlling Egbedore Local Government, Awo, without minding the legal due process attached to the selection of the new monarch in our legal society.
Saying that Adegboye Taiwo acted in Contrary to Section (15) sub-section (5) that , ‘The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’ and anyone who encourages corruption in any form, deserve no honour.
It added that Adegboye Taiwo claimed different dates of birth in his Affidavit of Declaration of Age dated 15th day of December,1999, that made from the Federal High Court, Osogbo Judicial Division, that he was born on the 10th day of October,1980 and also claimed in his West Africa Examination Senior School Certificate (WAEC-SSCE) of June 2001 with Certificate Number: NGWASSCS2682561, that he was also born on the 8th day of August,1979.
This was contained in a signed Press Statement by the CHRSJ’s Assistant General Secretary (AGS), Pastor Michael Agassi and copies were made available to newsmen on Sunday, alleging that Adegboye forged every document in his earlier illegal appointment and subsequent installation as new Alawo.
The group also maintained that the names claimed on his Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo’s Notification of Results of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) obtained in 10th of August, 2006 and 14th of November, 2008 respectively with National Youth Service Corps Certificate obtained on 19th of November, 2009, did not have bearing of his identity name in the Change of Name deed in Newspaper edition, thereby making it identity theft of Polytechnic Notification of Results and NYSC Certificate of another person in the family.
Adding that all these Certified True Copies of documents were attached to his(Adegboye) Expression of Interest Form in respect of Alawo Chieftaincy Stool.
According to CHRSJ: “To our surprise, the time when Adegboye Taiwo claimed to have changed his name from Abudulie to Abdulrasaq after he obtained the acclaimed NYSC Certificate. He bearded ‘Abudulie’ to obtain West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in 2001, National Diploma (ND)in 2005, Higher National Diploma (HND) in 2008 and NYSC Certificate in 2009 but changed his name to contest for Alawo Stool from Abudulie’ to Abdulrasaq and this suspicious of identity theft which means he does not know his real name before he went to the Polytechnic and observed a year mandatory of National Youth Service Corps.This is a pure issue of criminal forgery by Adegboye Taiwo “.
It further maintained that this was the reason Taiwo Adegboye and his cohorts in forgery scandal have been running helter-skelter to cover his forgery activities after the Appeal Court had sacked him from the throne of Alawo Stool.
Speaking on the rumour of alleged planned coronation by the Egbedore Local Government, Awo, to reinstall deposed Taiwo Adegboye in flagrant disobedience to Appeal Court Judgement, the group warned that such an action would amount to contempt of Court that could lead to imprisonment of contemnors.
CHRSJ then restated the call on the administration of Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to set-up panel to investigate the forgery scandal rocking the Alawo of Awo Chieftaincy Stool in Egbedore Local Government area of the State.
The group therefore, in the interest of equity and justice, also urged the State Government under Governor Ademola Adeleke to act in accordance with the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of PDP&2Ors. V.Biobarakuma Degi- Eremieyo & 3Ors(2021)-SC.1/2020 by implementing the Appeal Court Judgement in respect of the Chieftaincy Stool.