ICPC Arraigns NIPC Deputy Director Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a Deputy Director of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mr. Yusuf Abubakar Mustapha, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged forgery and related offences.

Mr. Mustapha was arraigned on Tuesday before Honourable 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 ICPC investigators.

According to the ICPC, investigations revealed discrepancies in the academic certificate submitted by the defendant. He allegedly claimed to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Second Class Honours (Lower Division), which he reportedly used to secure employment with the NIPC in May 2010.

However, responses from ABU reportedly indicated that the certificate was not issued by the university. Documents from the institution, including graduation lists and the defendant’s academic transcript, allegedly showed that Mr. Mustapha graduated with a Third-Class degree, contrary to the Second-Class degree certificate presented at the point of employment.

The Commission further alleged that both the Second-Class degree certificate and the accompanying statement of result presented by the defendant were forged and materially different from the genuine certificate issued by ABU.

The charges 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; 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.

Mr. Mustapha pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Mr. David Nwaze, applied for a trial date, while defence counsel, Mr. Denen Kya, sought bail for the defendant on liberal terms.

After hearing submissions from both parties, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million with one surety resident within the court’s jurisdiction. The case was adjourned to May 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.