Certificate Forgery: EFCC Files 9-count Charge Against Akwa Ibom Reps Member

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a nine-count forgery-related charge against Mr. Nse Bassey Ekpeyong, a member of the Federal House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State. In the first of the charges filed before the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, Mr. Ekpeyong was accused of presenting to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a National Diploma certificate purportedly issued by the Abia State Polytechnic dated in November, 2012, with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine.

The alleged offense which was filed by an EFCC legal officer, Ahmedu Imo-Ovba Arogha is 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.

The second count alleged that Mr. Ekpeyong, on December 18, 2014, at the INEC headquarters, altered the same document, with the intent to present it as genuine, an offense contrary to 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.

In the third count, the EFCC alleged that the House of Representatives member presented an Abia State Polytechnic National Diploma Statement of Result in Business Administration with registration No. 2009NDE/3829/BA dated  November22, 2012, with the intent to present it as genuine, an offence in contravention 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.

In the fourth count, the anti-graft agency accused Mr. Ekpeyong of altering the same statement of result, with the intent to present it as genuine, despite knowing it was forged. The offense is contrary to 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.T he Federal legislator, alleged the EFCC in the fifth count, forged a West African Senior School Certificate, with Certificate No. NGWASSCP 557610, an offense in contravention of the Miscellaneous Offenses 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.

In the sixth count, Mr. Ekpeyong was accused of presenting the same school certificate to INEC. The alleged offence is contrary to 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. The seventh count accused Mr. Ekpeyong of presenting the allegedly forged school certificate to INEC, as captured in INEC Form C.F.001, with the intent to present it as genuine.

In the eighth count, the House of Representatives member was accused of altering INEC Form C.F. 001, with the intent that it may be acted upon by the electoral body, an infraction contrary to 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.

The final count alleged that the Mr. Ekpeyong, sometimes between July 18 and 25, 2016, at the EFCC  office in Port Harcourt, before Usman Adoke, an officer of the commission, admitted in written statements that the certificates presented were genuine.

The alleged offense is contrary to Section 39 (2) (a) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39 (2)(b) of the same Act.

Source: SaharaReporters