A
member of the House of Representatives, Nse Ekpenyong, was on Thursday
arraigned at the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for alleged forgery
of a polytechnic diploma.
Mr. Ekpenyong
represents the Oron Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State.
The Economic and
Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, which arraigned the federal lawmaker on nine
count charges, accused him of forging a national diploma certificate of the
Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State.
Mr. Ekpenyong pleaded
not guilty to the charges. And from the accused box, he watched as his lawyer,
Emmanuel Isangedoho, argued for his bail which was opposed by the EFCC.
The lawmaker wore a
brown colour Niger Delta wear. He cut the image of a dejected and lonely man.
He occasionally brought out a white handkerchief to wipe his face.
The presiding judge,
Ijeoma Ojukwu, said the case would be treated speedily.
She granted the
lawmaker bail in the sum of N10 million and adjourned the case to April 12.
The
EFCC was represented by Ahmedu Arogha.
The case is coming amid
a controversy over the genuineness of the university certificate of a Nigerian
senator, Dino Melaye.
Mr. Melaye, a former
member of the House of Representatives, from Kogi State, was accused of falsely
claiming to have graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
On Tuesday, ABU vice
chancellor told the Senate Mr. Melaye graduated from the school with a third
class bachelors in geography.
A Senate committee
cleared Mr. Melaye of wrongdoing, basing its decision on the VC’s testimony.
But the school’s
position has been questioned, with some Nigerians demanding evidence beyond an
oral testimony by the vice chancellor.
-Premium Times
No comments:
Post a Comment