Certificate forgery allegation: ICPC arraigns NIPC deputy director

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned a Deputy Director of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Yusuf Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, over alleged forgery.

Mustapha was arraigned before Justice S.U. Bature on three charges bordering on forgery, fraudulent presentation of forged documents, and making false statements to ICPC investigators.

According to a statement on Thursday by the ICPC’s spokesman, John Odey, investigations revealed discrepancies in the defendant’s academic certificate.

He said Mustapha claimed to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Second Class Honours (Lower Division), which he allegedly used to secure employment with the NIPC on May 5, 2010.

“However, responses from Ahmadu Bello University reportedly indicated that the certificate was not issued by the institution. Further documents provided by the university, including graduation lists and the defendant’s academic transcript, allegedly confirmed that the defendant graduated with a Third-Class degree, contrary to the Second-Class degree certificate presented at the point of employment, ” the statement added.

The ICPC further alleged that the Second-Class degree certificate and accompanying statement of result submitted by the defendant were forged and materially different from the genuine Third-Class degree certificate issued by the university.

“The charges against the defendant include forgery contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation; fraudulent presentation of forged documents contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the same law; and making false statements to an ICPC officer contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000One of the charges alleged that the defendant, while serving as a deputy director at the NIPC, forged a Bachelor of Science degree certificate with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), purportedly issued by Ahmadu Bello University, with the intent to commit fraud, ” Odey said. Punch