Reps member sent to Prison for Certificate forgery.

House of Representatives member Nse Ekpenyong who
was earlier arraigned at the Federal High Court in Uyo, the
Akwa Ibom state capital over alleged forgery of his
polytechnic diploma, has been remanded in prison for
failing to meet the bail conditions.

Nse Ekpeyong has appeared in court over alleged certificate
forgery
Premium Times reports that Ekpenyong, who represents
Oron Federal Constituency as a member of the Peoples
Democratic Party, was arraigned before Justice Ijeoma
Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, by the Economic and
Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on nine count charges,
one of which was forgery of his national diploma certificate
from Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia state.


One of the charges preferred against the lawmaker 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 presiding
judge Ijeoma Ojukwu said the case would be treated quickly.
He was granted bail in the sum of N10 million and a surety
in like sum.
It was gathered that the court asked that the surety must
deposit with the court the sum of N5million as part of the
conditions bail, which would be forfeited if Mr. Ekpenyong
fails to appear in court twice in the course of the case.
The court also asked that the surety must provide a three-
year tax clearance certificate from 2014 to 2016.
However, Ahmedu Arogha, the lawyer who appeared for the
EFCC in the case, confirmed that the lawmaker was not able
to meet up with the bail conditions and was sent to the Uyo
Prisons by the time he (Mr. Arogha) left the court premises
at about 1.30pm.
A senior Prisons officer also confirmed that the lawmaker
had been remanded in the Uyo Prisons.