An Abuja Area Court in Karmo on Wednesday re-ordered the Police in the FCT Command to transmit an interim report on the allegations of certificate forgery against a Kwara lawmaker, Ahmed Ndakene.
When the matter which was slated for ruling on investigation report from the Command came up, the complainant’s counsel Labio Oji informed the court that they were ready for the ruling, subject to the court’s convenience.
Alex Edim, the defence counsel on his part affirmed that, he aligned with Oji’s position, he however complained that the delay in the matter was preventing his client from carrying out his legislative duties.
Ayi Joseph, a counsel also representing the complainant in his submission appealed to the court to make a consequential order so that the investigation would be guided by stipulated terms.
Joseph in addition urged the court to exercise its discretionary power to proceed with the matter, as according to him, it was not mandatory that the police must handle the investigation as there were other security agencies that could also handle it.
The Judge, Inuwa Maiwada , however, said that the police had not presented the court with any report.
He said when he made the order of July 6, the Command were directed to ratify, authenticate and transmit the report done by Utako Divisional Headquarters within seven days, hence the report ought to be ready by now.
Maiwada therefore made a consequential order to the effect that a Remainder Notice to be issued by the court to the FCT Command immediately.
The judge also ordered that the police should transmit an interim report as failure to do will compel the court to decide on the matter either way as the case may be.
He further ordered that the report should be furnished to the court not later than Sept 2.
Maiwada concluded by saying that the matter stood adjourned until Sept. 7 for ruling on the police report.
Earlier the Command who was represented in court by Insp. Edward Ikpafe informed the court he was directed by the Deputy Commissioner to tell the court that the investigation report had not been concluded due to some bureaucratic bottleneck.
Ikpafe further said they were still awaiting the correspondence from West African Examination Council (WAEC), in order to enable them conclude their report and forward same to court.
The police officer in addition asked for a month as he claimed the pace with which the Council was working might take that period of time before they can furnish the police with the needed information.
The court had earlier directed the Utako Divisional Police Station to conduct an investigation into the allegation brought against Ndakene by way of direct criminal complaint by Mahmud Babako.
However, the court granted the complainant’s counsel application that wanted the matter transferred to a higher police authority in order to speed up the conclusion of the investigation report.
Babako, who was a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election that Ndakene emerged as winner, on the platform of the APC had alleged that the defendant forged his certificate.
Babako alleged that Ndakene, who represents Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency of Kwara, had criminally breached the provision of Section 88(1), 89(3) and 109c of the Administrative Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
He alleged that Ndakene forged his certificate and presented same to the Independent National Electoral Commission in the form he used to contest for the 2019 election.
He also alleged that the defendant deposed on oath to facts which were not true and his occupying the seat of his constituency was based on false information and forged documents.