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ICPC arraigns NIPC Deputy Director over alleged certificate forgery
The charges border on forgery, false statements, and use of forged documents.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Yusuf Mustapha, a deputy director with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), over alleged forgery and fraudulent presentation of academic documents.
Mustapha was arraigned on Tuesday before an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Samira Bature, on a three-count charge bordering on forgery, fraudulent use of forged documents, and making false statements to ICPC investigators.
According to the anti-graft agency, investigations revealed discrepancies in the academic certificate submitted by the defendant during his employment process at the NIPC.
The ICPC alleged that Mustapha claimed to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in 1997 with a second-class lower division degree in Business Administration, a qualification he reportedly used to secure employment with the NIPC on May 5, 2010.
However, the commission said verification responses from ABU showed that the certificate presented by the defendant was not issued by the institution.
Documents obtained from the university, including graduation records and the defendant’s academic transcript, allegedly indicated that Mustapha graduated with a third-class degree, contrary to the second-class lower certificate he submitted at the point of employment.
The ICPC further alleged that the second-class lower degree certificate and accompanying statement of result tendered by the defendant were forged and materially different from the authentic third-class degree certificate issued by ABU.
The charges are said to contravene sections 363, 364 and 366 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, as well as section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Mustapha pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, David Nwaze, applied for a date to commence trial, while defence counsel, Denen Kya, informed the court that a bail application had been filed and urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned to May 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
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