The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim, the current Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) (FCET) in Gusau, and Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer at the Sokoto State College of Education (SSCE), Sokoto, on charges of alleged certificate forgery.
The pair face a six-count charge, registered as Charge No. SS/213c/2024, presented before Hon. Justice Muhammad Aliyu Sambo at the Sokoto State High Court.
The ICPC alleges that the two defendants forged an appointment letter and used it in applying for the Provost position at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gusau, Zamfara State.
Additionally, they are accused of providing false information to ICPC officers during the investigation, an offense under Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(ii)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim (F) and Abdullah Boyi (M) sometimes in the year 2023 or thereabout at Sokoto within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to do an illegal act to wit: forgery of a letter of “Notification for Appointment” to the Post of Chief Lecturer on COMPCASS 14 with effect from 1st January, 2017 and you thereby committed an offencecontrary to section 59(1) and punishable under section 60(2) ofthe Sokoto State Penal Code Law,2019.”
Both defendants, however, pleaded “not guilty” to all six charges when they were read out by the Court’s Registrar.
Defense counsel, Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu and Mr. M.S. Diri SAN, filed bail applications on behalf of their clients, asking the court to grant bail on reasonable terms. They cited the defendants’ established roles and cooperation throughout the investigation as grounds for consideration.
ICPC counsel Mr. Suleiman Ahmad did not oppose the bail applications.
After reviewing the applications, Hon. Justice Sambo granted bail with specific conditions to ensure the defendants’ presence throughout the trial. Each defendant must provide two sureties who are permanent residents of Sokoto State, with each surety signing a bond of one million naira (₦1,000,000).
Following the bail decision, the ICPC prosecutor requested a trial date, highlighting the Commission’s readiness to present witnesses and evidence supporting the charges.
Hon. Justice Sambo adjourned the case to 21st November, 2024, for the commencement of the hearing, where the prosecution is expected to call witnesses and present material evidence to substantiate the allegations.
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