Sokoto: ICPC Takes Action, Arrests Provost, Lecturer for Alleged Certificate Forgery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Hauwau Abdulkarim, the Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Zamfara State, and Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer at Sokoto State College of Education, over alleged certificate forgery.

The ICPC charged both defendants with forging an appointment letter, which was then allegedly used by Abdulkarim in applying for the position of Provost at the college. They also face accusations of making false statements to ICPC officials during the investigation, a violation under Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, punishable under Section 25(ii)(b) of the same Act.

A statement from the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, released on Sunday, revealed that both defendants pleaded not guilty to the six charges filed against them.

The first charge stated, “That you Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim (f) and Abdullahi Boyi (m), sometime in the year 2023 or thereabout, at Sokoto, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to do an illegal act to wit: forgery of a letter of ‘Notification for Appointment’ to the Post of Chief Lecturer on COMPCASS 14 with effect from January 1, 2017, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 59(1) and punishable under section 60(2) of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.”

During the court proceedings, defense counsels Dr. Muhammad Aliyu and Mr. M.S. Diri submitted bail applications, requesting reasonable terms due to their clients’ cooperation during the investigation and their established roles in society. The ICPC’s counsel, Mr. Suleiman Ahmad, did not oppose the bail request.

Justice Muhammad Sambo granted bail under specific terms to ensure the defendants’ ongoing presence at trial. Each defendant is required to present two sureties who are permanent residents of Sokoto State, each signing a bond of ₦1,000,000.

Following the bail decision, the ICPC prosecutor sought an early trial date, affirming the commission’s readiness to present witnesses and evidence. Justice Sambo subsequently adjourned the case to November 21, 2024, when the hearing will begin.