The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Hauwau Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim, Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, Zamfara State, and Abdullahi Boyi, a lecturer from the Sokoto State College of Education. Both individuals face allegations of forgery and related offenses.
According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the defendants appeared before Hon. Justice Muhammad Aliyu Sambo at the Sokoto State High Court on a six-count charge, filed under charge No. SS/213c/2024.
The charges revolve around accusations that Abdulkarim and Boyi forged an appointment letter, which was allegedly used by Abdulkarim in her application for the Provost position at the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gusau.
The ICPC further alleged that the defendants made false statements to ICPC officers during the investigation. These actions are considered offenses under Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which carries penalties under Section 25(ii)(b) of the same Act.
Count one of the charge states, “That you Hauwa’u Gimbiya Mukhtar Abdulkarim (F) and Abdullah Boyi (M) sometimes 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 1st January, 2017 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 59(1) and punishable under section 60(2) of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when presented in court.
Defense counsel, Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu and Mr. M.S. Diri, SAN, applied for bail, emphasizing their clients’ “established positions and cooperation during the investigation.” ICPC counsel Suleiman Ahmad did not oppose the request.
After reviewing the applications, Hon. Justice Sambo granted bail on the condition that each defendant provide two sureties, who must be permanent residents of Sokoto State, with each surety signing a bond of ₦1,000,000 to ensure the defendants’ presence throughout the trial.
