A college provost and lecturer have been arraigned by the ICPC over accusations of certificate forgery, raising concerns over academic fraud.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought charges against Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim, the provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gusau, and Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer at Sokoto State College of Education, for alleged certificate forgery.
The arraignment occurred at the Sokoto State High Court before Honorable Justice Muhammad Aliyu Sambo, with charge number SS/213c/2024.
According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the pair is facing six charges related to allegations that they fabricated an appointment letter in order to obtain Abdulkarim’s role as Provost at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau located in Zamfara State.
Furthermore, they are charged with providing false statements to ICPC officers during the investigation, which violates Section 25(1)(a) and is punishable under Section 25(ii)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000.
One of the charges states: “That you, Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim and Abdullah Boyi, conspired in or around 2023 within Sokoto’s jurisdiction to commit an illegal act by forging a ‘Notification for Appointment’ letter for the position of Chief Lecturer on COMPCASS 14 effective from January 1st, 2017. This constitutes an offense contrary to Section 59(1) and is punishable under Section 60(2) of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.”
However, both defendants entered pleas of ‘not guilty’ to all six charges when the Court’s Registrar read them.
Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu and Mr. M.S Diri SAN, representing the defendants, respectively submitted applications for bail on their clients’ behalf.
They asked the court to consider setting reasonable bail terms, highlighting the defendants’ “established positions and cooperation during the investigation.”
Mr. Suleiman Ahmad, the counsel for the ICPC, did not object to the bail applications.
After reviewing the applications, Hon. Justice Sambo approved bail with specific conditions to ensure the defendants remain present throughout the trial proceedings.
According to the bail conditions, every defendant must present two sureties who are permanent residents of Sokoto State. Each surety needs to sign a bond valued at one million naira (N1,000,000).
Peoplesmind
