False statement: Coordinator Akwa Ibom Poly's absence delays his trial

The absence of a coordinator of the Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Abuja Satellite Campus, Saturday Igwe in a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa on Wednesday stalled his trial for alleged giving false statement,

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), charged the defendant with eight counts bordering on false statements, which he pleaded not guilty to.

At the resumed trial, the Defence Counsel, Odu Onabe informed the court his client was ill.

Odu said his client had always been in court for trial previously and prayed to the court for an adjournment

Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf adjourned the matter until April 25 for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Micheal Adeshola alleged that the defendant, made false statements to officers of the ICPC in November 2012.

Adeshola said that the defendant claimed he was not aware that the said campus was proscribed by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education.

He added that the defendant obtained N162, 000 from Ms Helen Joseph on the pretence that the National Diploma Programme of the campus was valid and approved by the ministry in 2007 and 2010.

The prosecution counsel said the defendant forged the polytechnic’s admission letter and National Diploma Statement of result and issued to Joseph.

He said the defendant allegedly obtained N250, 000 from one Ude Obiageli for a National Diploma programme, forged the mentioned certificates and issued to her.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 25(1)(a) , 1(1)(a)and punishable under 25 (1)(b) and 1(3) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The prosecution counsel added that the offence also contravened section 363 and punishable under 364 of the Penal code.(