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Tag: Certificate forgery

  • Certificate Forgery: Court dismisses suit against Niger Gov

    The certificate forgery case against the Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been dismissed by a federal High Court.

    The Court sitting in Minna also directed the Plaintiff (PDP) to pay the sum of N500, 000 to the Governor.

    The suit which was filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the 11th January, 2019 alleged that the governor submitted forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The case which was presided by Justice Aminu Aliyu held that the plaintiff failed to establish that Bello presented forged certificate to INEC as the sole witness called by PDP failed to collaborate the facts.

    The court held that the Plaintiff’s case is devoid of merit and declared it dismissed.

  • Certificate forgery: Court dismisses case against Adeleke

    An Osun State High Court in Osogbo has dismissed a fresh suit challenging Senator Ademola Adeleke as the governroship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 22 Osun guber poll.

    The presiding judge, Justice David Oladimeji, dismissed the suits following the plaintiffs withdrawal of the case.

    At a resumed hearing on yesterday after a fresh suit seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrict Adeleke from parading himself as the candidate over alleged forged school certificate, counsel to the plaintiff, Abdulramon Okunade, told the court that his client had reached an agreement to withdraw the suit.

    He, therefore, asked for an adjournment.

    But the defence counsel, Nathaniel Oke, opposed the adjournment, affirming that the case should be dismissed since the applicants had resolved to withdraw the matter.

  • Igbajo Poly sacks Rector for ‘certificate forgery’

    Authorities of Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo, the headquarters of the Boluwaduro East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Osun State, have sacked the Acting Rector, Mr. Akinola Olugbenga Olaolu, for alleged certificate forgery.

    Olaolu, who was enmeshed in a PhD certificate scandal, claimed to have obtained it from the University of Ibadan (UI) before his appointment.

    But it was learnt that following an investigation by the polytechnic, UI debunked the “Rector’s” claim, leading to a crisis in the polytechnic.

    Also, last Friday, the management of the polytechnic made a pronouncement after several meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.

    Addressing reporters on the campus, the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Olajide Oyewole, accompanied by the Secretary, Akin Rotimi, said: “The governing council  wrote the UI to authenticate his (Akinola Olugbenga Olaolu’s) claimed PhD certificate in Economics.”

    Oyewole said the outcome of the verification indicated that the certificate purported issued to him did not emanate from the university.

    He added: “The Governing Council met on July 4 on the letter received from the UI and decided that the services of Mr. Akinola Olugbenga Olaolu will no longer be required in Igbajo Polytechnic.

    “The BoT met on July 5 to deliberate on the report of the Governing Council and directed that the ongoing process of appointing a new rector must be completed without delay.

    “It must be emphasised that Igbajo Polytechnic has zero tolerance for fraud, corruption, indiscipline and other illegal acts that can put its integrity and that of its products in question.”

     

  • Police recruitment: Commissioner decries certificate forgery, age falsification

    A commissioner in Police Service Commission (PSC), Comfort Obi, representing the Southeast and the media on the commission has decried the rate of certificate forgery and age falsification among shortlisted candidates in the nationwide screening for Police Constables.

    Obi, while speaking with our correspondent at the Police Officers Mess in Umuahia, Abia State, said that over 40percent of those who applied for the police constable’s job in the state would have been cooling off in police cells if they were to strictly follow the guidelines of the recruitment exercise.

    “If we are very strict, at least, 40percent of them would have been locked up in the cell by now. Very unfortunate that you will find the youths who are coming to apply for police job are falsifying their age. You will see somebody that was born in 1986 going to swear an affidavit in the court lying on oath that they were born in 1995/1996.

    “I think that our people, we really need some enlightenment and reorientation for them to know that what they are doing is perjury. It is a crime and it carries three years imprisonment. Our children unfortunately don’t know that.

    “We have also seen those that have forged results. We have seen a lot of them here since we started that can barely speak good English or write their names correctly even with high credits in English in their results. We have also seen some married women coming to apply for the job.

    “What we are doing all through this week is just screening; looking at their certificates, checking their heights and chest. The main exam which will be conducted for the Police Service Commission by JAMB because we want the result to come out immediately will take place on May 24. Then those that have scaled through, the result will be pasted the next day and on June 6, they will start their training.”

    She added that out of 1,098 persons shortlisted in Abia, only 119 of seven candidates across the 17 local government areas in the state would be selected to the May, 24 exam which would be conducted by JAMB. This is even as she lamented mobile network and power fluctuation as setbacks to the exercise.

  • EFCC drags lawmaker to court for certificate forgery

    EFCC drags lawmaker to court for certificate forgery

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a serving member of the House of Representatives, Nse Bassey Ekpenyong before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on a 9-count charge of forgery and uttering of documents.

    Ekpenyong, member representing Oron Federal Constituency of Akwa- Ibom State in the National Assembly, was alleged to have forged an Abia State Polytechnic Ordinary National Diploma Certificate and uttered a December 1999 West African Examination School Certificate, WASSCE, and thereby committed perjury before an Electoral Tribunal where he claimed that the certificates were genuine.Hon Nse Bassey

    The first count reads: “That you Nse Bassey Ekpeyong on or about the 22nd November 2012 at Uyo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make a document to wit: Abia State Polytechnic National Diploma Certificate in Business Administration with Certificate No. 001181 dated 22nd November, 2012 with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws Of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act”

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddb06c” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Related Post: Melaye appears before Senate committee for certificate forgery[/quote]

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddab5f” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Another count read: “That you Nse Bassey Ekpeyong on or about the 18th December 2014 at INEC Headquarters, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did Utter a document to wit: West African Senior Certificate No. NGWASSCP 557610 with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws Of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act”.[/quote]

    The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to him.

    In view of his plea, prosecution counsel Ahmed I. Arogha and S. Hussaini, asked for a trial date and accelerated hearing of the matter. However, counsel for the defendant, Emmanuel Isangidoho, told the court that he had filed an application for bail for his client and urged the court to admit him to bail.

    Justice Ojukwu granted the defendant bail in the sum of ten million Naira, with one surety in like sum. The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, provide 2 recent passports photograph and 3 years tax clearance certificate. The surety should write an undertaken to produce the defendant throughout the trial and all the documents of the surety must be verified by the Registrar.

    Justice Ojukwu also ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.

    The case has been adjourned to April 12 and 26 and May 3 and 4, 2017 for trial.

  • Melaye to appear before Senate committee over certificate forgery

    Melaye to appear before Senate committee over certificate forgery

    Senator Dino Melaye is expected to appear before the Senate Ethics Committee later on Monday over alleged certificate forgery.

    An online medium, SaharaReporters, had reported last week that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).

    It claimed that the senator representing Kogi West allegedly bribed his Head of Department (HOD)  to forge his transcript.

    Details later…

  • Senate to probe Saraki, Melaye over bullet-proof car, certificate forgery

    Senate to probe Saraki, Melaye over bullet-proof car, certificate forgery

    ‘Senate President has nothing to do with importation of vehicle’

    Special Adviser to the Senate president on Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu has stated that the allegation raised by Senator Ali Ndume linking Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to the importation of vehicle lacked basis as it was outright falsehood.
     Olaniyonu, in a statement, said from the facts and documents about the seized vehicle, it was obvious the Senate President had nothing to do with the importation of any vehicle.
    “A supplier was engaged by the Senate to supply a vehicle. While transferring the vehicle between Lagos and Abuja, it was impounded by the Customs. We believe that it is an issue between the supplier and the Customs because the Senate has not taken delivery. So, why is somebody trying to drag the name of Saraki into the issue?
    “The documents on the vehicle are there for the general public to view and make their conclusions. Now that the matter has been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, all the facts will be out,” Olaniyonu stated.

    THE Senate has asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate its President Bukola Saraki for alleged importation of bullet-proof car with fake Customs duty certificate.
    It also mandated the committee to probe the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).
    The resolution to launch the investigation followed a motion of privilege by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).
    Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear in uniform to throw light on the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet-proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.
    On Melaye, Ndume referred the Senate to a publication by a national newspaper that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
    Ndume told the Senate that an online platform claimed Melaye did not obtain a degree in Geography from ABU, Zaria.
    The Borno South lawmaker, who prayed the Senate to investigate the issues, noted that there was nothing untoward about investigating the Senate President.
    He said a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery and investigated to clear his name.
    Ndume added that a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was also accused of corruption and investigated.
    He noted that Wabara was also given opportunity to clear his name.
    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, he said, was also accused of certificate forgery and given opportunity to clear his name.
    He said another presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was also accused and investigated to clear his name.
    Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and it was reported in a paper; I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance after Nigeria Customs Service seized Senator Saraki’s bullet-proof Range Rover over fake documents.
    “My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen or heard or read the rain of abuses on this Senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.
    “During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.
    “In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he showed his NYSC certificate.
    “Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President Adolphus Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence has been set.
    “Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Dino Melaye and it is in the paper today? Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this Senate will stand as it supposed to.”
    After the plenary, Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development.
    The Kogi West senator noted that democracy is about investigation, where no senator is above investigation.
    He said those bandying the report that he did not graduate from ABU were obsessed with him.
    He said Nigerians would not be surprised that one day the same people would say he is not a Nigerian.
    Melaye, however, assured he would submit himself to investigation as a law-abiding citizen of the country.
    He added that as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility to investigate him, he would excuse himself from the committee, unless invited.
    Melaye, who said he would not be deterred by negative reports about him, noted that he has seven degrees already pursuing the eight one.
    He said ABU would not allow him to do higher degrees, if he did not have a degree certificate.
    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, asked Ndume to lay the documents he has.
    Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.
    Ekweremadu referred the two matters to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
    He gave the committee four weeks to report back.

  • Supreme Court clears Suswam of Certificate forgery allegation

    Supreme Court clears Suswam of Certificate forgery allegation

    •Upholds his governorship mandate

    The Supreme Court yesterday cleared the Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam of allegations of certificate forgery brought against him by a former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Mr. Terver Kakih.

    The five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Suleiman Galadima,   in a 62-page    judgment unanimously held that Kakih’s appeal lacked merit and consequently threw it out.

    The court upheld the concurrent judgment of the Federal High Court Makurdi delivered on July 11, 2012, as well as the Court of Appeal Makurdi which had on March 5, 2013, dismissed the case.

    Kakih, who lost the January 9, 2011 governorship primaries by six votes to Suswam’s 976 votes, had challenged his opponent’s qualification to contest the governorship poll on grounds of alleged forgery of his GCE certificate.

    He also alleged that the ward and state congresses of the party were conducted in violation of the PDP constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, and sought the court’s relief declaring him as the duly elected candidate of the party and, therefore, the winner of the April 26, 2011 governorship election in the state.

    The judge held that the appellant    failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the criminal allegation of certificate forgery against Governor Suswam as required in section 362 of the Penal Code.

    The court declared: “There is no piece of evidence led by the appellant to prove that the 4th respondent (Suswam) presented forged certificate to either 1st (PDP) or 2nd respondent(INEC) or that he swore falsely to an affidavit stating facts relating to his certificate which are false in order to bring his case within the ambit of section 31(5) of the Electoral Act 2010

    Citing Section 131-134 of the Evidence Act, the judge noted that the appellant filed the appeal out of sentiments without any supporting facts or evidence, adding that political sentiments “command no place in judicial deliberations.”

  • UI, WAEC, NYSC clear Akume of certificate forgery

    UI, WAEC, NYSC clear Akume of certificate forgery

    The University of Ibadan (UI), the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have denied claim that former Benue State Governor, George Akume forged his education certificates.

    An Abuja-based businessman, Philip Agbese had sued Akume before the Federal High Court, Abuja, accusing him of forging his educational certificates.

    The denial by UI, WAEC and NYSC is contained in their responses to the suit.

    UI, WAEC and NYSC, in separate applications, confirmed that Akume sat and passed requisite examinations and was awarded certificates and issued with a discharge certificate.

    UI, in an application, confirmed that Akume attended the institution and was awarded a B.Sc Degree Certificate in Sociology in 1978. WAEC also confirmed that Akume sat and passed its examination in 1971 having attended Government Secondary School, Otukpo Benue State between 1967 and 1971.

    The NYSC admitted that Akume participated in the mandatory one year national service and was issued with a discharge certificate after his service at the Advanced Teachers College, Akwanga in the then Plateau State (now in Nasarawa State).

    Also sued with Akume are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police.

    The presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, on Wednesday warned against undue delay in the hearing of the case.

    Justice Mohammed issued the warning after plaintiff’s lawyer, Amobi Nzelu, stalled proceedings by applying for adjournment to enable him respond to the preliminary objections raised by WAEC and NYSC.

    Justice Mohammed observed that “the application for adjournment is very unfortunate.

    “I would want a situation where this matter is prosecuted diligently.

    “Nobody wants to be taken to court. And if you take somebody to court over an allegation, you are expected to speedily prosecute the case so that he or she will know his fate.

    “The 2nd to 3rd respondents (WAEC and NYSC) served you (Nzelu) before vacation, but you did not reply on time. You are expected to be diligent as plaintiff’s counsel,” Justice Mohammed said.

    Akume’s lawyer, Sebastine Hon (SAN) also complained about the altitude of the plaintiff’s lawyer, which he said showed an attempt to delay hearing in the case.

    “The history of this case has left so much to be deserved. You rushed somebody to court, who is a former governor and a Senator of the Federal Republic, over allegations of certificate forgery and you are now not in a hurry to proceed with the case.

    “My lord, I want a quick resolution of this matter on its merit. That is why we did not file any preliminary objection,” Hon said.

     

  • Police arrest aspirant for alleged certificate forgery

    The police in Ebonyi State have arrested a councillorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Odah Mmaduabuchi, for alleged certificate forgery and impersonation.

    This followed two petitions by an aspirant, Kingsley Onu, to the Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commissioner (EBSIEC), John Nkwuda.

    In the petition titled: “Conspiracy, Forgery and Impersonation”, Onu alleged that the party’s State Deputy Chairman, Joseph Onwe and the councillorship candidate for Ntezi ward in Ishielu Local Government forged a West African Senior Secondary School Examination statement of result.

    The petition reads: “I wish to bring to your notice act of conspiracy, certificate forgery and impersonation against Odah Mmaduabuchi, the councillorship candidate of Ntezi ward and Joseph Onwe, the PDP Deputy Chairman, who hail from Amata Ntezi Community, Ishielu Local Government Area.

    “Mr. Odah did not attend any secondary school in Ebonyi State or elsewhere in Nigeria.

    “He conspired with Joseph Onwe to forge and impersonate the May/June 2008 West African Senior Secondary School Examination Statement of Result with examination number 4120810154 and Examination Center, Community Secondary School Agba, belonging to Odah Ogochukwu, his younger sister.”

    Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo confirmed Odah’s arrest.

    He said the police were still investigating the matter.

    When contacted, Onwe said: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”