Reps member Nse Ekpeyong charged to court for certificate forgery sent to prison

Nse Ekpenyong

A House of Representatives member, Nse Ekpenyong, who was earlier brought before the law at the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, over supposed forgery of his polytechnic diploma, has been incarcerated for inability to meet up with the bail conditions.

According to Premium Times, Ekpenyong, who is a Peoples Democratic Party member and represents Oron Federal Constituency, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Uyo with Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in charge of the hearing.

He was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on 9-count charges, one of which was falsification of his national diploma, ND, certificate from Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia state.

One of the allegations preferred against the representative read: “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.”

Ekpenyong pleaded not guilty to the charges and ruling judge Ijeoma Ojukwu said the case would be treated fast.

Ekpenyong was granted bail in the sum of ₦10 million and a surety similar to the sum.

Report said that the court requested that the surety must deposit with the court the sum of ₦5million as fragment of the conditions bail, which would be sacrificed if Mr. Ekpenyong refuses to appear in court twice in the progression of the case.

The court also asked that the guarantor must provide a 3-year tax clearance certificate from 2014 to 2016.

But Ahmedu Arogha, the attorney who appeared for the EFCC in the case, established that the representative was not able to meet up with the bail conditions and was referred to the Uyo Prisons by the time he (Arogha) left the court building at about 1.30pm.

One of the senior Prisons officer had also confirmed that the legislator has been remanded in the Uyo Prisons.