FCT NUJ 2024 election: Chairmanship candidate, three other office seekers in certificate forgery scandal as police probe suspects, IIJ’s involvement

In a desperate bid to circumvent the provisions of the rule in the bye law of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT chapter, which provides that aspirants to offices in the Union should have been professionally certificated for at least a year to the election, four office seekers have resorted to certificate forgery, acting in concert with the management of the Abuja-based Institute of International Journalism (IIJ).

Those whose hands have allegedly been caught in the cookie jar of crime are Ms. Ike Grace Zipporah of ADBN media house, Jide Oyekunle Adeyemi of Daily Independent, Edeh Sandra Ogechukwu of Federal radio Corporation of Nigeria and Ndambabo Yahaya of Voice of Nigeria.

Grace Ike Zippora, a leading candidate for the position of chairman of the union, had galvanized widespread support through her robust electioneering as well as engagements with NUJ stakeholders. She is still deploying her mojo in her plan to consummate victory in the election fixed for December 4, 2024.

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But what would appear to be her smooth run hitherto has become stormy following a November 25, 2024 petition to the FCT Police Commissioner by her opponent, Mr Johnchuks Onuanyim and two other journalists, in which they detailed the nature and extent of the alleged certificate forgery.

The office of the Police Commissioner received and acknowledged the petition on November 25, 2024.

A statement by the FCT Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the receipt of the petition and clarified that the involvement of the Police was limited to investigating the allegation of certificate forgery.

According to the Command, the investigation involved routine questioning of the accused individuals to verify the claims.

The Command urged all parties to respect the integrity of the investigation and refrain from spreading false accusations that could undermine public confidence, adding that the outcome of the investigation would be communicated to the public in due course.

Meanwhile, the letter by Onuanyim (New Telegraph), Victorson Agbenson (FRCN) and Emeka Eze (Blueprint newspaper) entitled: “Forgery of IIJ PGD Statement of Reults/Certificate to Grace Ike and 3 others” has continued to expose the underbelly of the electoral process and discount the integrity of their candidatures as well as the credibility of the IIJ, which had already explained that it awarded the certificates to the four accused persons even when they had yet to wrap up their final year projects let alone partake in a graduation ceremony.

Onuanyim and co. alleged that the said certificates had been submitted to “a controverted Credentials Committee of the Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the forthcoming election of the Council.”

The petitioners hinged the gravamen of their complaint on the writ-large forgery of the credentials that Ike and the three other accused submitted to the Committee in aid of their qualification for the election.

Read other parts of the petition: “We are practicing journalists in Abuja, FCT and bona fide members of the Council and we have it on good authority that Ms Ike and Ndambabo sat for the examinations of the Institution in October this year, 2024 and they are on their projects for the completion of their academic works, but statements of results of Upper Credit have already been issued to them bearing June n and August 2024 dates.

“Also on that of Mr Oyekunle, who was alleged to have graduated from the Institution in 2018, we are curious why his statement of result is bearing the date of 2023 and why Edeh Sandra Ogechukwu’s certificate was issued on Sunday, 31/08/2008.

“According to the statement of results of Ike Grace Zippora and Ndambabo Yahaya, it is alleged that they gained admission in 2022 and graduated in 2023. This is contrary to the information obtained that they gained admission in 2023 and wrote their final examination in October 2024. The duo are said to be on their project works, which are part of the academic process.

“Sir, we consider the above infractions in certificates awards a forgery and desire the Command to investigate the certificate and the statement of results.

“For emphasis, they wrote their final exams in October, this year, 2024 and they are (currently) doing their project works.

“Also of importance is that the election of the NUJ FCT Council scheduled by an illegally-constituted Credential Committee for December 4, 2024 be put on hold to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the Council.

“Attached herewith are photocopies of the statements of results and certificates and scheduled election campaign.

“[Be] rest assured that we hold the Nigeria police Force in high esteem.”

THE CONCLAVE reports that the management of the IIJ had already reined in to defend the issuance of the statements of results and certificates even when the accused have yet to fulfil all the requirements for the award of the certificates.

The IIJ had reaffirmed the authenticity of the candidates’ certificates presented to the Credentials Committee.

The institution reportedly explained that the discrepancies highlighted by the petitioners -such as dates of admission and graduation- were administrative nuances that did not compromise the authenticity of the documents, even as it further clarified that the institution’s issuance process adhered strictly to academic protocols, adding that the candidates in question met all the requirements for their certifications.

The FCT Police Command has responsibility to get to the root of the allegation.

THE CONCLAVE reports that the investigation is on full throttle.