The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has disowned the certificate linked to a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnanji, telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that it was not issued by the corps.
Testifying as the second prosecution witness before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the NYSC ‘s Assistant Director in the department of certification, Yusuf Abubakar Jumare, said an investigation by his department established that the document was fake.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC) is prosecuting Geoffrey Nnanji on charge of certificate forgery and money laundering.
The former Minister is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming Enugu State governorship election.
He was represented in court by a team of lawyers led by Wole Olanikpekun SAN.
Led in evidence by Jimoh Abdulmumuni, SAN, Jumare Said the department launched its investigation following a request from the icypc.
The certificate number, purportedly issued in 1985, carries the prefix “A”, which the NYSC did not begin using until 1990.
The call-up number on the certificate has four digits, whereas call-up numbers in 1985 had five.
The certificate indicates a service period of 13 months instead of 12 calendar months and was not signed by the Director-General of the NYSC serving at the time.
the prosecution also tendered copies of correspondence between the icpc and the nysc on the alleged fake certificate which were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits.
the defence said it would address its objections to the admissibility of the exhibits at a later date, informing the court that it had not been served with the documents.
under cross-examination by bode olanikpekun, san, jumare maintained that the certificate was not issued by the NYSC
justice abdulmalik adjourned the case to november 30 for continuation of cross-examination of the second prosecution witness and january 29 for continuation of trial.
CREDIT: NTA
