The forgery case instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Mr. Saturday Igwe, the Coordinator of an illegal Akwa-Ibom State Polytechnic Osurua, Nyanya Abuja Satellite Campus, has resumed in earnest after several false starts, as the defendant was re-arraigned on an 8-Count charge of Forgery before Justice Fatima Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja on Wednesday.
The case against Mr Igwe had stalled due to the elevation of the presiding judge, who had previously heard the matter to a higher court.
ICPC is prosecuting the defendant for the alleged forgery and issuing of several admission letters and statements of results under the guise that the said documents originated from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
He was further alleged to have made false statements to officers of ICPC as well as conspiring to defraud prospective students of money under the pretence that his campus was an accredited extension of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, knowing full well that the satellite campus had been banned by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The charges brought against Mr Igwe in counts 1, 2 and 3 contravened section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 as well as section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 respectively.
Count 4 to 7 meanwhile were deemed contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federation 2004.
One of the counts read “that you Saturday Igwe on or about the year 2008 in Abuja while being the Coordinator of Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Osurua Nyanya Abuja Satellite Campus, forged Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua admission letter issued to Helen Joseph and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federation, 2004.
Upon Mr Igwe’s not-guilty plea after the charges were read, Counsel to ICPC, Barrister Micheal Adesola prayed that the Court proffer a date for adjournment wherein the Commission will further its case by presenting witnesses. He further mentioned that the exhibits vital to the case were yet to be forwarded to the court.
Consequently, counsel to the defendant, Barrister Glory Onen applied that the court grant Mr Igwe bail under the most lenient of conditions, citing his availability and cooperation to the judicial process.
Barr Adesola did not oppose the bail application.
Justice Fatima Aliyu, therein, granted bail to the defendant subject to the pre-existing conditions stipulated at his prior arraignment. She added that the court was willing to expedite proceedings, given the lengthy time that has already elapsed on the same matter.
The matter was then adjourned to the 6th of February, 2025 for a hearing.