By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a Deputy Director of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mr. Yusuf Abubakar Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged forgery and related offences.
The defendant was arraigned on Tuesday before Honourable Justice S.U. Bature, sitting at Court 22, on a three-count charge bordering on forgery, fraudulent presentation of forged documents, and making false statements to investigators of the Commission.
According to the ICPC, investigations uncovered discrepancies in the academic certificate submitted by the defendant during his employment process at the NIPC.
The Commission alleged that Mr. Mustapha claimed to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Second Class Honours (Lower Division), which he allegedly used to secure employment with the NIPC on May 5, 2010.
However, official responses obtained from Ahmadu Bello University reportedly indicated that the certificate submitted was not issued by the institution.
Further documents provided by the university, including graduation lists and academic transcripts, allegedly showed that the defendant actually graduated with a Third-Class degree, contrary to the Second-Class Honours certificate presented at the point of employment.
The ICPC further alleged that both the Second-Class degree certificate and the accompanying statement of result submitted by the defendant were forged and materially different from the genuine Third-Class certificate issued by ABU.
The charges include forgery contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, fraudulent presentation of forged documents contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the same law, and making false statements to an ICPC officer contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
One of the charges reads in part that the defendant, while serving as a Deputy Director at the NIPC, allegedly forged a Bachelor of Science degree certificate with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), purportedly issued by Ahmadu Bello University, with intent to commit fraud.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Mr. David Nwaze, requested a date for the commencement of trial, while defence counsel, Mr. Denen Kya, informed the court of a motion seeking bail for the defendant on liberal terms.
After hearing submissions from both parties, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million, with one surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case was adjourned to May 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
The charge was signed by the Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. J. Okor Odey, ANIPR.
