LEGAL NUGGETS (Series 118) - ISSUE: DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE : Whether a Wrongly Certified Public Document Can be Re-certified and Re-tendered.- By Adedotun Habeeb Adetunji, LL.M (M.IoD), FCAI

UZOMA V. ASODIKE (2009) LPELR-8421(CA)

ISSUE:
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE : Whether a wrongly certified public document can be re-certified and re-tendered

PRINCIPLE:
"It is now settled that a wrongly certified or even an uncertified public document can be re-certified and re-tendered in evidence.

See UMOGBAI v. AIYEMHOBA (2002) FWLR [Pt.132] 192 CA, (2002) 8 NWLR (Pt.770) 687, and also LAW OF EVIDENCE IN NIGERIA - S.T. Hon at page 287.
Poor certification is generally treated as mere irregularity, and the court can order the document to be properly certified by curing the defect complained of." Per EKO, J.C.A. (P. 18, paras. D-F)

CITED CASES
UMOGBAI v. AIYEMHOBA (l2002) FWLR [Pt.132] 192 CA, (2002) 8 NWLR (Pt.770) 687.