Mohammed Shosanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim, the serving Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) (FCET), Gusau.
He was arraigned alongside Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer with the Sokoto State College of Education (SSCE) Sokoto on alleged certificate forgery.
The ICPC’s spokesperson,Demola Bakare,in a statement said the duo were arraigned on a six-count charge, registered as charge No. SS/213c/2024, before Hon. Justice Muhammad Aliyu Sambo at the Sokoto State High Court.
The agency accused the two defendants of forging an appointment letter and subsequent use of same for application for the position of Provost at the Federal College of Education(Technical) Gusau, Zamfara State.
They were also accused of making false statements to the officers of the ICPC in the course of investigation which is an offence 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,according to the statement 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.”
The defendants,however,pleaded not guilty to all the six charges.
Counsel for the defendants,Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu and Mr. M.S Diri SAN,respectively moved for applications for bail on behalf of their clients.
They requested the court to consider reasonable terms for bail citing the defendants’ “established positions and cooperation during the investigation.”
Counsel to the ICPC,Mr. Suleiman Ahmad did not oppose the bail applications.
Hon. Justice Sambo,granted bail under specific conditions designed to ensure the defendants’ continued presence throughout the trial proceedings.
The bail conditions require each defendant to provide two sureties who are permanent residents of Sokoto State, with each surety signing a bond of one million naira (₦1,000,000).
After granting the bail, the prosecution counsel requested a date for trial to commence, emphasizing the Commission’s preparedness to present witnesses and evidence in support of the charges.
Justice Sambo adjourned the matter to 21st November, 2024,for further mention on the matter.
