NIGERIA: ICPC Arraigns College Provost, Lecturer Over Alleged Certificate Forgery In Sokoto

Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim, Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gusau, Zamfara State, along with Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer at the Sokoto State College of Education, have been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of certificate forgery.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesman, on Sunday.

The arraignment took place at the Sokoto State High Court before Hon. Justice Muhammad Aliyu Sambo. Both defendants face a six-count charge, registered under case number SS/213c/2024.

ICPC alleged that the defendants conspired to forge an appointment letter, which they allegedly used in applying for Abdulkarim’s Provost position at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau. 

The Commission further accused the defendants of making false statements during ICPC’s investigation, an offence punishable under Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

According to court documents, one of the charges against the defendants reads: “That you Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim and Abdullah Boyi, sometime in 2023 at Sokoto within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to do an illegal act, namely, the forgery of a letter of ‘Notification for Appointment’ to the Post of Chief Lecturer on COMPCASS 14, effective from 1st January, 2017, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 59(1) and punishable under Section 60(2) of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.”

Both Abdulkarim and Boyi pleaded not guilty to all six charges when read by the Court’s Registrar.

Counsel representing the defendants, Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu and Mr. M.S. Diri SAN, sought bail on their clients’ behalf, citing their cooperation during the investigation. ICPC’s counsel, Mr. Suleiman Ahmad, did not oppose the application.

After considering the submissions, Hon. Justice Sambo granted bail with conditions to ensure the defendants’ presence throughout the trial. Each defendant is required to provide two sureties who are permanent residents of Sokoto State, with each surety signing a bond of one million naira (₦1,000,000).

Following the bail approval, the ICPC prosecutor requested a date for trial, emphasising the Commission’s readiness to present evidence and call witnesses.

Justice Sambo adjourned the case to 21st November 2024, when the trial is scheduled to commence.