NIGERIA: ICPC Arraigns NSITF Staff Over Certificate Forgery

By Munyal Manunyi

A staff of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), one Tiemo Joy Alabogha, was on Thursday arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over certificate forgery. 

According to ICPC spokesman, Demola Bakare in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday evening, the accused was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Ogbonaya of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Zuba, on a 6-count charge of forgery, intent to commit fraud and making of false statement amongst other misconducts.

Bakare said: “Alabogha, was accused of producing and presenting a forged Bachelor of Education certificate from the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to NSITF, knowing fully well that it was not genuine. She was therefore deemed to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code, Laws of the FCT.

“The accused was further arraigned for presenting a letter of certificate of confirmation, supposedly emanating from UNICAL, which confirmed that the falsified certificate of education was genuine.”

He further highlighted that her actions contravened 25(1)(a) and was punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

However, the defence counsel urged the Court to grant bail to the Defendant to which prosecuting counsel, Aniekan Ekong, did not oppose the application. 

Ekong, however, urged that “should the Court be minded to grant bail to the defendant, it should be on such terms and conditions that will guarantee the availability of the defendant for trial.” 

Alagboha was therefore remanded at the Suleja Custodial Facility pending ruling on her bail application and the matter was adjourned to 19th February 2025 for the hearing.