House of Reps Member Nse Bassey Ekpenyong Remanded in Prison over alleged Certificate Forgery

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has ordered that Nse Bassey Ekpenyong, the legislator representing Oron Federal Constituency in Akwa- Ibom State at the House of Representatives.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday arraigned the lawmaker on before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, a 9-count charge of forgery and alteration of documents.

Ekpenyong was alleged to have forged an Abia State Polytechnic Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Certificate and uttered a December 1999 West African Senior School Certificate and thereby committed perjury before an Electoral Tribunal where he claimed that the certificates were genuine.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecuting counsels Ahmed I. Arogha and S. Hussaini asked for a trial date and accelerated hearing of the matter.

However, counsel to the defendant, Emmanuel Isangidoho, told the court that he had filed an application for bail for his client and urged the court to admit him to bail.

Justice Ojukwu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10, 000,000.00 (Ten million Naira) with one surety in like sum.

The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, provide 2 recent passport photograph and 3 years tax clearance certificate.

The surety should write an undertaken to produce the defendant throughout the trial and all the documents of the surety must be verified by the Registrar.

Justice Ojukwu also ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.
The case has been adjourned to April 12, 26 and May 3, 4, 2017 for trial.

Photo Credit: Facebook – EFCC