Former Director-General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, Chima Cartney Igwe, was on Friday 12th November 2021 arraigned before a Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja for alleged certificate fraud.
He was charged before the court presided over by Justice Serifat Solebo for fraudulently presenting a fake doctoral certificate to the management of the institution.
According to the charge sheet with number ID/15716c/2021, Chima, sometime in 2002, while being a public officer knowingly gave a document with false information to his employer.
Justice Solebo ordered his remand following his arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a three counts charge.
Igwe pleaded not guilty to the offence bordering on giving false information with the intent to deceive, using office to confer an unfair advantage upon himself and making false statements to public officers.
His offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 17(1)(c) and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Also, his offence of making a statement to a public officer is contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2020.
Earlier in the proceeding, the prosecution counsel, Mr Henry Emore, informed the court that the prosecution filed a charge dated 4th May and was filed on 15 July 2021 against the defendant (Igwe), and prayed the court to take the plea of the defendant.
The prosecution alleged that defendant being an officer with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), did confer an unfair advantage upon himself by presenting an Attestation Letter to the Institute signifying the completion of a PhD programme in Applied Chemistry at the University of Abomey- Calavi (UAC) Republic of Benin consequent upon which he got many promotions and rose through the rank to the Directorate cadre.
On the issue of bail, the prosecution counsel told the court that they are not opposed to granting bail to the defendant. He said that they have three witnesses to testify in the trial and urged the court to remand the defendant.
However, Igwe’s counsel prayed the court to grant him bail in most liberal terms. Moving his bail application, Mr E.O Ekong told the court that his bail application dated 27th September 2021 prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending his trial in the suit.
Justice Sholebo, in a bench ruling, granted him bail for Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) only with two sureties in like sum. The addresses of the sureties are to be verified by the court registrar.
The surety must also show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State government, the court directed.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till 24th, 27th February 2022 for commencement of trial.
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