ICPC arrests two FRSC officials over certificate forgery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Messrs. Edwin Onyuwe and Achigili Ogoli, over certificate forgery, along with two others, Sunday Okpara and Abdulrahman Razak, who helped them in forging the certificate of the University of Abuja. 

Their arrest came following a petition by the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Opeyemi, to the commission, alleging that the two officials had approached the management of FRSC, with forged Bachelor of Science degrees in Public Administration from the University of Abuja, to be upgraded to officer cadre.

The two officials were also alleged to have presented fake statements of result from the same institution to the management of FRSC for the same purpose. 

However, the Corps contacted the University of Abuja to ascertain the authenticity of their certificates, which was confirmed by the school that they were forged.

Despite this, the two officials maintained that the certificates were approved by the University, having allegedly paid N500,000 bride to a staff of the University to falsify records so as to back up their claim.

Upon investigation by the ICPC, it was found that the two officials were students of the Distance Learning programme of the University, who didn't graduate poor results, as documents from the University showed that they u had multiple carry overs in the courses registered, which allegedly made them to approach the forgery syndicate to prepare the forged degree certificate for them to present to their organisation for upgrade of their cadre. 

It was discovered that the amount of N430,000 was found to have been paid to the syndicate for the forgery, with Onyuwe paying N230,000 while Ogoli paid N200,000 respectively.

Furthermore, a member of the syndicate, Razak, claimed to be a printer, informed ICPC operatives that he used an original certificate from the University obtained from a friend to perfect the forgery. 

Other members of the syndicate include Matthias Ibitiye, Usman Danjuma, and Uchenna Ifeonu.

The matter is to be charged to court after conclusion of investigation.