Court throws out certificate forgery charge against Kwara lawmaker

By Olalekan Awojodu

Abuja

A case of certificate forgery instituted against Ahmed Ndakene, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Idu/Moro/Pategi Federal Constituency was on Friday dismissed by an Abuja Area Court sitting in Karmo.

The nominal complainant, Mahmud Babako, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) brought Ndakene of the All Progressives Party (APC) before the court in direct a criminal complaint on the alleged criminal breach of section 88(1), 89(3) and 109c of the Administrative Criminal Justice Act ( ACJA) 2015.

In the suit, Babako alleged Ndakene of certificate forgery in the election where the latter emerged as the winner, under the APC.

Babako also alleged that the said forged document was presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the form he used to contest for the election.

While delivering his judgment in the matter, the judge Ismail Jibril, after dismissing the suit held further that the decision of the court was based on the police report earlier read by the court clerk.

The judge also discharged the defendant and ordered that a copy of the police report be made available to the counsel representing both parties.

The prosecution argued that the police were tasked by law  to find out the authenticity of the credentials and whether or not the certificates presented and used by Ndakene for the election were forged or not.

The police also claimed in a report to have written to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC),West African Examination Council (WAEC) and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The report had it that WAEC issued a certificate after Ndakene claimed he lost his original statement of result in Aug. 21, 2012  and was issued attestation of result with number: 00002218 by WAEC.

According to the report, the Ministry of Education, Minna also confirmed that Ndakene’s name was on the list of students that sat for Nov/Dec. 1990 examination.

In addition, the police report equally claimed that the school principal of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger, between 2010 and 2016, Ahmed Paiko confirmed that he was the one that issued and signed the statement of result in 2013.

The Principal was recorded on audio and camera.

According to the report, all the investigation carried out failed to prove a case of prima facie of forgery and giving false evidence on oath against the suspect.

The report added that Ndakene’s certificate and results were genuine as contained in the documents submitted to INEC before vying for the House of representative seat.