Dismissed NECO officer in court over certificate forgery

Dismissed NECO officer in court over certificate forgery

A former National Examination Council (NECO) staff member, Mrs. Rose Deffi, has been arraigned in court for allegedly forging the certificate she used to secure employment with the organization. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought charges against her following an indictment in 2020 during NECO’s nationwide certificate verification exercise.

This exercise led to the indictment of 89 NECO staff members for using fake certificates. The NECO Governing Board subsequently approved the dismissal of the indicted employees, and their cases were referred to the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force for prosecution.

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ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare informed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that Mrs. Deffi’s trial was initially scheduled for May 30, 2024, before Justice G.D. Fwomyon of the Plateau State High Court. However, the trial was delayed due to her absence. The court ruled that Mrs. Deffi should be served the charge sheet through substituted means and be produced in court by her lawyer at the next hearing.

Last Friday, when the case was called, Mrs. Deffi pleaded not guilty to all seven counts of forgery against her.

“In light of her plea, ICPC counsel Mr. O.G Iwuagwu requested another date for the commencement of the trial,” Bakare said. “The defence counsel, Mr P.M Lere, did not oppose this but asked the court to consider the bail application for his client.”

The ICPC counsel did not oppose the bail application but requested the court to set conditions to ensure Mrs. Deffi’s availability for trial. Justice Fwomyon granted Mrs. Deffi bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to September 26, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.

Dismissed NECO officer in court over certificate forgery