Bauchi MP Faces Forgery Charges

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Justice has indicated interest to take over criminal prosecution of certificate forgery charge earlier filed by Ibrahim Angale of Congress for Progressive (CPC) against Yakubu Ahmed Mohammed of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Bauchi Central constituency.

Mohammed was accused of presenting a forged primary school certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A letter from the office of the State Commissioner of Justice signed by the Director Public Prosecution (DPP), Barrister Dawud Yakubu, entitled 'Taking over of Criminal Proceeding/Prosecution in the Case of Ibrahim Angale and Yakubu Ahmed', was sent to the magistrate of Court Eight.

The letter said the state Attorney General had taken over the prosecution of the case pursuance to section 211(1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

When the case was mentioned in court, counsel to Angale, Barrister Tunde Oyefeso told the court, "It's sympathetic for such take over because the counsel who instituted the case was not contacted.

"This one is a reckless abuse of power because section 211(3) says such takeover must be in the public interest to justice and the need to protect legal abuse of process."

In his response, counsel to the state Attorney General, Usman Ibrahim Lame, applied for adjournment to enable them set the records straight.

The magistrate, Aminu Umar Ilelah adjourned the suit till May 8, 2013.

Angale was elected into the state Assembly during 2011 general elections. He was sacked from the House by tribunal which declared Ahmed winner of the election. Angale filed criminal charges against Ahmed citing certificate forgery. He went to appeal on the area of jurisdiction. The court ruled that it had jurisdiction.

Angale filed another criminal case against Ahmed.

Source: Legit.ng