EFCC witness admits Reps Certificate

BY SAMPSON ENYONGEKERE 

A staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Mr. Usman Adoke attached to the Port Harcourt office of the Commission, whose duty it was to carry out investigation on the petition alleged to have been written by the Buhari Youth Organization against a sitting House of Representatives Member, Hon. Nse Bassey Ekpenyong representing Oron Federal Constituency, over alleged certificate forgery and alteration of documents at the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital on Wednesday and Thursday 3rd and 4th May respectively, attested to the authenticity of the diploma certificate in public administration presented in Court and issued to Hon. Nse Bassey Ekpenyong by the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

Adoke, an investigating officer of the EFCC said this during a cross examination by the defense lead counsel, Ekpenyong Ntekim, Esq. Adoke who claimed he had been with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, for about nine years said he got to know the defendant sometime in April 2016, when a petition  from the Buhari Youth Organization got to EFCC office, alleging  the defendant had submitted forged certificate and other documents to INEC in the run up to the 2015 National Assembly Election.

Mr. Usman Adoke further said, that a member of the public could give a false information to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police and the like, but that such information must be investigated upon thoroughly and not be presumed to be true. Asked to produce the various handwritings taken for forensic analysis in the course of the EFCC investigation on the matter, Mr. Adoke said non was taken. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, staff who was kept in the witness box further assented to the responses received from Proof Management College, Eket, an affiliate of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, confirming the authenticity of Hon. Nse Ekpenyong’s certificate. He said he was a public officer and was bound to approach any investigation with an open mind.

One would recall that Engr. Garba Umar of the Buhari Youth Organization and Dr. Mrs. Constance Onyekachi, registrar of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba had earlier on April 26th in the same Court confirmed the authenticity of Hon. Nse Ekpenyong’s certificate. Mr. Usman Adoke’s admission only went to lend credence to it.

Visibly agitated, the plaintiff lead counsel, Ahmed Arogba had urged the court to dismiss the attestation made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC investigating officer, Usman Adoke. Arogba said Mr.Adoke had admitted it on grounds of ignorance. 

But the presiding judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu said the confirmation was admissible and adjourned the hearing to the 9th and 15th June, 2017.