EFCC Arraigns House of Reps Member for Alleged Certificate Forgery

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) today arraigned a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Nse Ekpenyong for allegedly forging Abia State Polytechnic National Diploma certificate before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ekpenyong who is representing Oron Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, was accused of forging the ND certificate in Business Administration with No. 001181 dated 22nd November, 2012.

But Ekpenyong entered a not guilty plea to the nine-count charge bothering on forgery.

A count of the charge as contained on the charge sheet reads: “That you Nse Bassey Ekpenyong on or about 22 November 2012, at Uyo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make a document to wit: Abia State Polytechnic National Diploma Certificate in Business Administration with No. 001181 dated 22nd November, 2012 with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence 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. ”

Defence counsel, Emmanuel Isangedoho, pleaded with the court to release the lawmaker on bail.

EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Mr Ahmedu Arogha opposed the bail application.

The presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, granted bail to the lawmaker in the sum of N10 million with two sureties.

Ojukwu promised that the case would be treated speedily, just as he adjourned the matter till April 12, 2017.