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Tag: Forgery

  • Just in: IGP Egbetokun fires 197 officers over alleged forgery, falsification

    Just in: IGP Egbetokun fires 197 officers over alleged forgery, falsification

     

    The Nigerian Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate retirement of senior police officers who are either over 60 years old or have served for more than 35 years.

    These include Simon Lough, SAN, the Head of the NPF Legal Section and Benneth Igweh, a former Federal Capital Territory Police Commissioner.

    These police officers have been implicated in forgery, falsification, and bypassing service regulations.

    The directive is disclosed in a letter dated February 1, 2025, signed by CP Bode Akinbamilowo, Deputy Force Secretary, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, and addressed to the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commandants of Police Staff Colleges at Jos and Kano, Commissioners of Police and Commandants of Police Colleges across the country.

    The letter is titled ‘Re: Police Service Commission Decision At Its 1stt Extra Ordinary Meeting Of The 6thh Management Board On The Regularisation Of Date Of First Appointment Of Cadet ASPs/Inspectors Force Entrants.’

    It reads, “Attached letter No. CH: 8400.IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.17/90 dates 31st January, 2025 with its attachments received from the Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters Abuja in respect of the above underlined subject refers.

    “I am to convey the directive of the Inspector General of Police that you ensure comprehensive implementation of the decision with emphasis on paragraphs 3 and 4 of the attachment letter under reference.”

    The decision of the PSC refereed to in the letter was earlier communicated to the IGP in a letter dated January 31, 2025 and signed by Nnamani Onyemuche, Secretary to the PSC.

    Paragraphs 3 and 4 to be given emphasis read: “Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday 31st January 2025 has approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.

    “Any omission discovered subsequently on this issue also falls within this approval.”

    Paragraph 5 reads: Please implement, inform the affected officers and make replacement for the vacancies thereafter immediately and forward to the commission for its consideration and approval.”

    On the list of those who should have retired but still in service going by their dates of enlistment are: Simon Asamber Lough who should have retired on January 8, 2022 going by his date of enlistment.

    Others listed include Benneth Chinedu Igweh (January 5, 2023), Akinbayo Olasukami Olasoji, Louis Chike Nwabuwa, Mukar Sule, Adamu Danjuma, Ajao Olusegun, and Iriemi Solomon.

  • Bauchi Govt sacks 2 officials for alleged forgery, corruption

    Bauchi Govt sacks 2 officials for alleged forgery, corruption

    The Bauchi State Civil Service Commission (BSCSC), has terminated the appointment of two senior civil servants for alleged forgery and diversion of fund.

    This is contained in  a statement by the Information Officer, BSCSC, Mr Saleh Umar, in Bauchi on Friday.

    The statement said Nasiru Sama’ila, Chief Clerical Officer and  Awwal Jibrin, Assistant Chief Clerical Officer, both from the state’s Ministry of Finance were dismissed having confessed to have perpetrated the crimes.

    “The commission took the decision during its 18th plenary Session on 15th of August, 2023 during the deliberation on disciplinary cases the two officers were found guilty of forging documents.

    “This act enabled them to divert the sum of N332,000 belonging to former and deceased staff, Jibrin Zalanga of the ministry.

    “The act contravenes section 327 of the Public Service Rule (PSR) and they admitted to have committed the crime in their responses to the queries issued to them individually by the ministry.

    “They were earlier arrested by the police and arraigned before the Chief Magistrate to get the wrath of the law,” said Umar.

    The information officer further revealed that the commission had, also during the session promoted 73 officers during the routine activities in the plenary session.

    He explained that the State Ministry of Religious Affairs took the centre stage with 59 personnel promoted to various grades.

    Umar added that the Chairman of the commission, Alh. Abubakar Husman, had lamented that the issues of financial disciplinary had become worrisome.

    “The chairman however , enjoined the workers in the state to be grateful and fear God in the discharge of their official duties.

    “He further urged the workers to be mindful of the financial instructions in their day-to-day activities,” he said.

    The commission approved the termination of one Ibrahim Garba attached to the state Pension Board during its 17th plenary session held on Aug, 1. for a similar offence.

  • Alleged forgery: Edeoga decries unavailability of pre hearing notification form

    Alleged forgery: Edeoga decries unavailability of pre hearing notification form

    The Labour Party Governorship candidate, Mr Chijioke Edeoga, says he is yet to be issued the pre hearing information form on the alleged NYSC certificate forgery case filed against Mr Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is hearing the petition filed by Edoga of the Labour Party against Peter Mbah of PDP and INEC.

    Edoga is praying the tribunal to disqualify Mba over the alleged NYSC certificate forgery.

    During the sitting, Dr E. J Azinge, counsel to Edoga, the petitioner, said in spite of the Tribunal ruling on June 7, which granted the PDP the right to reply to the application filed by the petitioner, the petitioner was yet to be issued with form T F 007 pre-hearing notice.

    Azinge added that in compliance with the electoral Act 2022, the petitioner had applied for the issuance for form T F 007 pre-hearing notice so as to be served with the pre-hearing information sheet.

    She urged the Court to be mindful of the abridgement of time in accordance to section 45 of the Act.

    She said she was making an application on the hinge on paragraph 18 for the urgency of the election petition period.

    The counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr Alhasan Umar said that the paragraph 18 (2b) reffed to by the counsel petitioner should be considered during the pre-hearing, adding that the application was pre mature.

    Mr Tochukwu Maduka, counsel to Mr Peter Mbah said that the application by the petitioner could only be taken during the trial and urged the Court to suspend the application.

    The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice K. M Akano, granted all the parties involved in the matter the right to apply for the issuance of pre-hearing information sheet after the form T F 007 would have been served to them for the commencement of pre-hearing.

    The chairman however, adjourned the case to June 16 for continuation of the matter.

  • FORGERY: FG drags First Bank MD, others to court

    FORGERY: FG drags First Bank MD, others to court

    The Federal Government has filed charges against First Bank of Nigeria Limited, its managing director and three others over allegations bordering on forgery.

    The charge sheet, marked CR/266/2023 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also includes two lawyers, Muftau Ande and Dibiaezue Chuks, as well as the Utako Branch Manager of First Bank, Abuja.

    In the charge sheet filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the five defendants were accused, among other things, of forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.”

    The defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using the forged tripartite legal mortgage.

    The prosecution claimed that the defendants had sometime in 2016, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired to forge a tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr. Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with the intent to commit fraud.

    In the first count, the defendants were charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy contrary to sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code.

    Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that the defendants committed a criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and said they are liable to be punished under Section 312 of the same law.

    In the third count, the defendants were accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property while being entrusted with the tripartite legal mortgage.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned till May 8 for arraignment after the prosecution lawyer, Ndidi Ezinwa-Ukoha, said all the defendants had yet to be served with the charge.

  • Certificate forgery: ICPC arraigns NSCDC official, Anthony Damisa

    Certificate forgery: ICPC arraigns NSCDC official, Anthony Damisa

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, Anthony Damisa over alleged forgery and making of false stateme.

    Damisa was docked before Honourable Justice M. E. Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 3 sitting in Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria?s capital.

    ICPC, in a Charge No: CR/348/2022 filed before the trial court, is alleging that the accused person used a forged Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Public Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as well as a forged National Diploma Certificate in General Agriculture from the College of Agriculture, Yandev, Benue State to seek higher placement in the Corps.

    ICPC also informed the Court of how investigation activities revealed that the certificates presented by the defendant to his employer did not emanate from the claimed institutions.

    The Commission in a 4-count charge, is further accusing the defendant of making false statement to officers of ICPC while on their official duties.

    His allege offences are contrary to Section 366, and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 89, Laws of the FCT and Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    When the charges were read to him, the accused person entered a ?Not Guilty? plea, and his counsel Ibrahim Alhassan thereafter raised a bail application on behalf of his client which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Ebiye Oglafa.

    The accused person was then admitted to bail in the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) and a surety in like sum who must be a civil servant not below grade level 10. He was also ordered to deposit either his International Passport or Driver?s License as well as two passport photographs.

    The matter has been adjourned to the 4th of April 2023 for commencement of hearing.

  • Court dismisses forgery case against Taraba APC guber candidate

    Court dismisses forgery case against Taraba APC guber candidate

    A Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo on Saturday night dismissed an alleged certificate forgery case brought by chief David Kente, against the governorship candidate of the APC, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha, for lack of evidence.

    Justice Bala  Usman, in his ruling, said the plaintiff  and his counsel failed to provide evidence to back his allegation against the APC governorship candidate as required by both INEC and the constitution.

    Usman further held that having carefully listened to all parties involved in the matter, the plaintiff lacked proof of evidence to support his case and consequently struck it out.

    Reacting to the judgment, Mr Dangana Tukura, Counsel to  Sen. Bwacha, described the judgment as a landmark event.

    Similarly, Mr Boniface Iorkumbur counsel to the APC, also hailed the position of the court as a true demonstration of fair justice in the eye of the law.

    Iorkumbur commended the judge for his courage and patience in listening to all parties as well as delivering a sound judgment.

    He further said that the inability of the plaintiff to call witnesses, especially those institutions where the 3rd respondent had passed through shows that they didn’t have a case against the respondent.

    Meanwhile, Mr. John Yuwa, counsel to chief Kente, expressed that he and his team of lawyers would find time to study the judgment and advised their client on the next line of action as the judgment was in brief.

    Recall that Chief Kente had approached the Federal High Court Jalingo, through his counsel, John Yuwa, alleging that the governorship candidate in Taraba, forged some of the documents submitted to INEC, that qualified him to contest the Primary election of the party.

    The plaintiff accused the 3rd respondent of criminal presentation of false information to the electorial empire and the APC.

    APC, INEC, and Bwacha were first, second and third respondents in the suit.

  • College of Education accountant to serve 304 years jail term over forgery 

    College of Education accountant to serve 304 years jail term over forgery 

    One Emmanuel Sombo has been sentenced to 304 years imprisonment for forgery and stealing of N34. 9 million from the account of Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, in Enugu state.

    Sombo was an accountant with the institution.

    He was convicted and sentenced by An Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice Kenneth Okpe.

    Sombo, who was convicted last Thursday after a long trial which started in 2010, had pleaded not guilty to the 61 count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in suit No E/56C/2010.

    He was alleged to have on several occasions forged the signatures of principal officers of the institution on promissory notes with which he cashed monies running into N34 million from the college’ First Bank account for his personal use.

    The principal officers including the Provost, the Registrar and the Bursar denied signing the cheques with which the accused withdrew the monies.

    The EFCC forensic experts who took samples of the principal officers’ signatures confirmed that the ones on the cheques used in the transactions were forged.

    Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Kenneth Okpe said they based on the weight of evidence before the court, the court had no difficulty in concluding that the accused person personally forged the signatures on the disputed cheques or was assisted to forge the documents.

    “The court is satisfied that the circumstantial evidence placed before it is cogent, compelling and points irresistibly to the fact that the accused person committed the offence of forging the disputed cheques. He acted alone and is still alone as he could not call even one witness from the college to support his defence.

    “These elements of the offence are present in the instant case and I, therefore, hold that the prosecution has proved all the ingredients of the offence of forgery beyond reasonable doubt and accordingly I find the accused guilty of forgery as charged in counts 32 to 61.

    “All the elements of stealing are present in this case. The accused person in his statement to the EFCC said he knew that the disputed cheques were fraudulently issued but he was asked by his Boss to play along.

    “He cashed the cheques and disbursed the proceeds in a manner that permanently deprived the Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu of the ownership of the money. I therefore also find the accused person guilty of the offence of stealing as charged in counts 1 to 31.

    “I will therefore sentence the accused person, Emmanuel Sombo to 7 years imprisonment for each of the offences of stealing in counts 1 to 31 in the Amended information, 217 years.

    “I also sentence him to 3 years imprisonment for each of the offences of forgery in counts 32 to 61 of the Amended Information, 87 years. However, the entire sentences are to run concurrently with effect from today. This is my judgement in this case.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fmr Fed University VC bags 35years jail term for forgery

    Fmr Fed University VC bags 35years jail term for forgery

     

    A former Vice Chancellor of Federal University Gusau, Professor Magaji Garba, has been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment by a High Court sitting in Garki, Abuja.

    Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu handed the sentence after he was found guilty of a five count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.

    Garba was arraigned by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 12, 2021, for allegedly extorting various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the University.

    The offence is contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

  • Court orders arrest of APGA leader For allegedly forging Supreme Court Judgment

    Court orders arrest of APGA leader For allegedly forging Supreme Court Judgment

     

    An FCT High Court in Bwari has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a factional leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku and one other over their alleged complicity in the forgery of a judgment of the Supreme Court.

    Justice Mohammed Magudu issued the arrest order in a ruling on Monday when Njoku and his co-defendant, Chukwuemeka Nwoga failed to attend court for their planned arraignment on a 14-coubt charge filed by the Inspector General Police (IGP).

    Justice Magudu ordered that Njoku and Nwogu be apprehended by the police and produced in court on November 28 for the purpose of their arraignment.

    The ruling was on an oral application by the prosecuting lawyer, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, who urged the court to order the production of the defendants, who he claimed were served with the charge and informed about the day’s proceedings l, but chose to stay away.

    Lawyer to Njoku, Panam Ntui challenged the mode of service of the charge on his client and prayed the court to reschedule the arraignment to enable his client, who travelled outside Abuja to return.

    Lawyer to the nominal complainant, Stephen Nwoga faulted Ntui’s claim that his client travelled outside Abuja, stating that Njoku addressed a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

    In his ruling, Justice Magudu held that it was obvious from evidence before the court that the defendants were duly served, but chose not to attend court.

    He consequently ordered their arrest and production on the next day for the purpose of their arraignment.

    Njoku and Nwoga are, in the charge marked: CR/12/2022 accused among others, of altering a judgment delivered by the Supreme Court on October 14, 2021 in the appeal marked: SC/CV/686/2021 and inserting Njoku’s name as the second defendant when he was never a party in the case.

    The defendants were alleged to have written Justices Mary Odili, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Mohammed Garba and Ibrahim Saulawa (who were members of the panel that delivered the judgment) to help insert Njoku’s name as the second respondent.

    They were alleged to have procured the services of some officials of the court who helped to insert Njoku’s name on the judgment, which Njoku allegedly presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the IGP, claiming to have been declared APGA’s National Chairman by the Supreme Court.

    Part of the charge reads: “That you Chief Edozue Njoku, Chukwuemeka Nwoga on or about 30th June, 2022 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with others who are now at large, dishonestly and deliberately forged the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in suit No. SC/CV/686/2021 with the name of Chief Edozie Njoku as the second respondent, knowing that he was not a party to the case, using same as a genuine judgment of the Supreme Court with the intent to mislead members of the public, and ridiculing the Judiciary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thereby committed an offence under Section 366 Penal Code Law.

    “That you Chief Edozie Njoku, on or about 18th July, 2022 at about 12pm in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and others who are now at large dishonestly and with intent to commit criminal offence, fabricated a letter to the Inspector-General of Police under false pretence that, you are the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) an act which you know to be false and criminal, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 178 of the Penal Code Law.

    “That you Chief Edozie Njoku on about 18th July, 2022 at about 10:30am in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with others, who are now at large, dishonestly forged the letter headed paper of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), in that, you wrote to the Inspector General of Police as the National Chairman of the APGA, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Panel Code law”.

  • Akwa Ibom APC Congress: Probe Forgery Allegations – Group Urges APC National Leadership

    Akwa Ibom APC Congress: Probe Forgery Allegations – Group Urges APC National Leadership

    A pro- APC group in Akwa Ibom State, Defenders of Akwa Ibom APC, has drawn the attention of the national leadership of the party to reports on the alleged forgery committed by officials of the newly inaugurated state leadership of the party in Akwa Ibom State.

    The group in a statement issued on Tuesday drew reference to a story published in Premium Times in which the chairman and secretary of the Sheriff Banki and Yakubu Sule respectively separately deposed that their signatures were forged to get the judgment that brought Stephen Ntukekpo to office as state chairman.

    It would be recalled that the Banki led congress committee had earlier declared Mr Austin Ekanem as the winner of the congress that was conducted last year.
    However, Ntukekpo had filed a court action insisting that he was the person declared as winner by the congress committee.

    Ntukekpo is backed by the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
    However, Ekanem is backed by several other state leaders of the party including Senator John Akpanudoedehe, former minister of petroleum, Chief Donald Etiebet, former APC governorship candidates Nsima Ekere (2019), Umana Umana (2015) among others.

    Drawing the attention of the party to the development, the group in a statement issued by its coordinator, Ibok Essein warned that the party had laid the foundation for illegality in the continued recognition of Ntukekpo.

    “We are worried by this development that the person foisted on us as chairman has been outed as having come to office through the wrong channel. The claim by the party’s agents to conduct the congress that their signatures were forged is enough damning evidence for the party to act to correct this abnormality.

    “We say that the reign of illegality and wickedness will not lead the party anywhere and that the minority cannot afford to make progress along this path,” the group warned.

    Mr Banki had alerted the APC of the forgery of his signature through a letter he sent to the then national chairman, Mr Buni, on January 11.

    The letter which was copied to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the State Security Service, and the chairman of INEC.

    “As you may recall, you appointed me as the Chairman of the APC Congress Committee to Akwa Ibom State for the Ward, LGA, and State’s Congresses, and I acquitted myself creditably,” Mr Bank said to Mr Buni in the letter.

    “I submitted the results and the reports accordingly, but to my utter dismay, my attention was drawn to a suit filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja, by one Stephen Leo Ntukekpo who swore to an affidavit and attached fake results sheets where my signature was forged and he declared himself the State Chairman-elect for Akwa Ibom State,” Mr Banki said in the letter.