A 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.
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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.
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ZENITHBLOG.com recalls that Ekpeyong’s case comes just after controversies over the genuineness of the university certificate of a senator Dino Melaye, who was accused of falsely claiming to have graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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