January 30, (THEWILL) — The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a Deputy Director of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Yusuf Abubakar Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged forgery and related offences.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the anti-graft commission said Mustapha was arraigned on Tuesday before 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 anti-graft agency.
The ICPC told the court that the charges stemmed from investigations into discrepancies discovered in the academic certificate submitted by the defendant during his employment process at the NIPC.
According to the Commission, the defendant 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).
The prosecution alleged that the said certificate was used by Mustapha to secure employment with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission on May 5, 2010.
However, the ICPC said responses obtained from Ahmadu Bello University indicated that the certificate presented by the defendant was not issued by the institution.
Further documents supplied by the university, including graduation lists and the defendant’s academic transcript, allegedly showed that Mustapha graduated with a Third-Class degree, contrary to the Second-Class degree certificate he presented at the point of employment.
The Commission further alleged that the Second-Class degree certificate and accompanying statement of result submitted by the defendant were forged and materially different from the genuine Third-Class degree certificate issued by ABU.
The charges against the defendant 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 counts alleged that the defendant, while serving as a public officer and Deputy Director at the NIPC, forged a Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Business Administration with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), purportedly issued by Ahmadu Bello University, with the intent to commit fraud.
Count One of the charges reads: “That you, Yusuf Abubakar Mustapha ‘Male’, being a public officer serving as a deputy director at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Abuja. within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, sometime in 2010, did forge a Bachelor of Science (Business Administration) degree certificate, with Second Class Honours (Lower Division), purportedly emanating from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, with intent to commit fraud, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all three counts when the charges were read to him in open court.
Following the plea, counsel to the prosecution, Mr David Nwaze, applied for a date for the commencement of trial, while defence counsel, Mr Denen Kya, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, citing a pending motion supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit and written address.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Bature granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million with one surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the matter to May 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.
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