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Lawmaker Mohammed Gololo ‘shuns’ trial for certificate forgery, exits Nigeria

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) is still looking for Mohammed Gololo, the lawmaker representing Gamawa Federal Constituency.

The lawmaker’s trial for alleged certificate forgery stalled again on Thursday as ICPC could not present him before the FCT High Court in Kubwa.

ICPC had charged the defendant with eight counts bordering on forgery.

However, the prosecution counsel, Ekoi Akponimisingha told the court today that he tried many times to serve the suspect but failed.

Akponimisingha said one of the reasons for his failure was that the lawmaker traveled out of Nigeria.

“I apologize to the court because this case has lingered since Feb. 16 and adjourned twice afterward for arraignment, ” Akponimisingha said.

He however prayed to the court for the last adjournment and applied that if the defendant is arrested before the adjourned date, he would be brought for arraignment.

Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter until Dec. 7 for arraignment.

The ICPC alleged that Gololo made a false statement to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2018.

The prosecution counsel alleged that the defendant claimed he attended and obtained a Bsc in Business Administration on July 18, 2018, and MBA in Business Management on Sept. 18, 2005, from Lagos State University.

He said the defendant submitted purported certificates to INEC headquarters on Oct. 18, 2018, and issued as genuine the false documents to contest elections into the House of Representatives under Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.

The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of Section 25(1)(a), 17(c) and punishable under 25(1)(b) Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.