Commissioner Nominee in Certificate Scam. May be Dropped

 A commissioner nominee whose name was forwarded alongside four others to the State House of Assembly on the 7th of October 2013 by the State Governor , Chief Godswill Akpabio, CON for screening and subsequent clearance has been found to be involved in certificate forgery and racketeering.

The said nominee who stood under oath before the Honorable Members was said to have been among the students dismissed from the University of Uyo in the 2002 cleanup exercise by the Prof. Akpan H. Ekpo led-administration against certificate racketeering.

During the screening session which was made available to Akwa Ibom Online, it was discovered that the Law Certificate presented by the nominee and issued by the University of Uyo dated 20th September 2005, showed discrepancies in the signatures of the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akaneren I. Essien and that of the then Registrar, Mr. Peter Effiong.

A lawmaker who was dismayed by the development asserted that Prof. Essien assumed office as Vice Chancellor in December of 2005, he could not have possibly signed a certificate that predates his tenure in office.

Also in question was the nominee's inability to provide the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) exemption/discharge certificate as stipulated in the nation's constitution for prospective public office holders and employees, admitting under oath, "That at any point of need of the said National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Exemption Certificate, I shall refer to the University Records Department."

A lawyer who commented on this development, revealed that it was a criminal offence punishable by 12 Months imprisonment or a fine of N2000, or both fine and imprisonment for anyone who refuses to make himself available for service in the service corps continuously for one year.

While referring to Section 12 (1) (a) and (b) as well as Section 13 (1) (b) of the NYSC Decree (1993) as enshrined in Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), said both the culprit and anyone who aids in the illegal act deserves to go to jail.

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