ICPC Charges House of Representatives Member For Certificate Forgery
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has charged a member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Garba Gololo (Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State) to court over allegation that he forged his first and second degree certificates presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2018.
Garba-Gololo who claimed to have attended the Lagos State University where he purportedly bagged both certificates is currently being tried before a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory with eight-count charges
The ICPC alleged in the charge marked: CR/012/2022, the Garba-Gololo presented forged Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree with second class honours (upper division) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) to contest election.
His arraignment scheduled for Thursday before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the High Court of the FCT in Kubwa, was postponed as the defendant failed to appear in court.
However, Justice Ogbonnaya High has adjusted the arraignment date to April 11.
Some counts in the charge read: "*You Mohammed Garba Gololo (male) sometime in 2018 or thereabout at Abuja, while being a public officer (member of the house of representatives) with intent to mislead, made false statement to the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when you stated in form CFOO1 that you attended Lagos State University and in that assumed character attached a Bachelor of Science Degree with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Business Administration dated July 18, 2002 purporting same to have been obtained from Lagos State University and submitted the said form CFO001 with attached purported certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission Headquarters, Abuja on October 18, 2018, which information/statement you knew was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 25(1)(a) and punishable under section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
*You Mohammed Garba Gololo (m) sometime in 2018 or thereabout in Abuja, with intent to mislead the Federal Government of Nigeria, knowingly gave a false information to agent of the Federal Government to wit the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission in your form CF001 when you stated that you attended Lagos State University and in that assumed character attached an MBA Degree in Business Management marked 053812 dated September 16, 2005 purporting same to have been obtained from Lagos State University and submitted the said form CF001 with the attached purported certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission Headquarters, Abuja on October 18, 2018 which information you knew was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 17(c) of the Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Act 2000.
*You Mohammed Garba Gololo (m) sometime in 2018 or thereabout at Abuja, dishonestly used as genuine a false document to wit ‘Degree of Bachelor of Science with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Business Administration,’ dated July 18, 2002 purporting same to have been issued by the Lagos State University and attached the said false document to a form CF00! and presented same to the Chairman of independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest for election into the House of Representatives under Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State when you have reason to believe that same was a false document and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 366 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja 2006
*You Mohammed Garba Gololo (m) sometime in 2018 or thereabout at Abuja, dishonestly used as genuine a false document to wit ‘degree of MBA in Business Management marked 051812 dated September 16 2005″ purporting same te have been issued by the Lagos State University and attached the said false document to form CFOOI and presented same to the Chairman of independent National Electoral Commission (INF C) to contest for election into the House of Representatives under Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State when you have reason to believe that same was & false document and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 366 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja 2006
*You Mohammed Garba Gololo (m) sometime in 2018 or thereadout at Abuja, being legally bound to state the truth on oath made a false declaration before the Commissioner for Oaths of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on October 10, 2018 when you stated in form CFOO1 that you attended and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in Business Administration from Lagos State University in order to contest for election into the House of Representatives under Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, a declaration which you knew was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 156 and punishable under section 158(2) of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja 2006".