The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, has been urged to probe the alleged complicity of some officials of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) acting in attempt to obstruct investigation into the WAEC certificate presented by Governor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom state to the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2023 governorship elections.
NCJDD in a statement issued at the end of the conference, alleged that some WAEC officials in Nigeria are preventing officials of the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL from inspecting the WAEC Master list, the Examination Register and Photocards of the WAEC certificate in question as well as obtaining Certified True Copy (CTC) of the WAEC Certificate of the governor as ordered by the court.
“The allegations making the rounds and contained in a leading online news platform is alarming and such infraction, alleged forgery and manipulations are subject of concern to Nigerians , particularly as public office holding is concerned, and must be stopped,” it said.
It said it is important for the IGP to investigate this allegation as it is of national interest that issues of allegation of presentation of forged certificates by public office holders must not be taken in levity and any public institution which is constitutionally empowered to investigate such allegations must be allowed to do so without hindrance.
At the ongoing trial, the Tribunal subpoenaed the Head of the National Office of WAEC to appear before it and testify on issues relating to Eno’s WAEC records including the WAEC register, candidate’s photocard of 1981 and GCE/WAEC certificate.
Furthermore, Law Icons (Solicitors & Notaries) in March 2023 wrote to the Inspector General of Police for inquiries on the WAEC/GCE 1981 certificate presented to INEC by Eno.
They sought to ascertain the authenticity of his WAEC certificate and also determine whether the holder of the certificate is Umo Bassey Eno or someone else. Following the petition, the INTERPOL was mandated to commence investigations at the WAEC headquarters in Ghana and subsequently, the national office of WAEC in Nigeria.
However, the governor has maintained that his certificate is original and not forged