A member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon (Chief) Thomas Ereyitomi, who currently represents the Warri Federal Constituency, is facing a certificate forgery saga at a High Court in Delta State.
The petitioner, Prince Collins Eselemo of Plot 3/5 Collins Eselemo Crescent behind Bendel Estate, Warri, Delta state sued Chief Ereyitomi for forgery, impersonation, economic sabotage, falsification of official document likely to cause breach of peace and perjury. The petition is dated April, 27, 2023.
The petitioners alleged that Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, who is an Itsekiri man by tribe, is parading a NECO certificate that was obtained in 2002 that belongs to one Etamuemu Thomas Ezekiel, an Urhobo man by tribe as his Secondary School Certificate.
Chief Thomas Ereyitomi had submitted the school certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as part of his educational qualifications.
The name Etamuemu Thomas Ezekiel is at sharp variance with the name, Thomas Ereyitomi in the other certificates such as Master’s Degree certificate, NYSC Exemption Letter.
Meanwhile, in his defence, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi had on 21st May, 2003 deposed to an affidavit claiming that his father’s name is Ereyitomi while his grandfather’s name is Etamuemu.
“That I was formerly known, called and addressed as EREYITOMI THOMAS
“That I sat and wrote NECO 2002 with the name ETAMUEMU THOMAS EZEKIEL and also wrote WAEC May/June 1984 with the name EREYITOMI THOMAS
“That EREYITOMI is my father’s name, ETAMUEMU is my grandfather’s name while THOMAS and EZEKIEL are my English name.
“That EREYITOMI THOMAS and ETAMUEMU THOMAS EZEKIEL are one and the same person.
“That I now wish to be known, addressed and called EREYITOMI THOMAS EZEKIEL,” the affidavit which was deposed to at the Customary Court in Ukwuani, Delta State, stated in part.
Meanwhile, the victory of Chief Thomas Ereyitomi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25th, 2023 Federal House of Representatives Election, is being challenged at the Delta State Election Petition Tribunal by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekpoto Ekpoto Emmanuel.
Text message sent to his phone was not responded to at press time.
