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The call for investigation of alleged certificate forgery by former Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, took a dramatic twist on Friday as the Patriots for Advancement of Peace and Social Development (PAPSD) dragged the former governor to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Acting on behalf of the Civil Society Organisation, an Abuja-based chamber, YAS LAW FIRM, in a petition to the ICPC, urged the anti-graft agency to investigate alleged certificate forgery by the Minister.
The petition signed by Aliyu Y. Salihu Esq for the law firm, stated, “It has become necessary to forward this petition of alleged documents falsification and forgery of the National Examination Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate (SSCE) Internal Result, June 2018 by Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence for urgent investigation and prosecution if he is found guilty of this criminal offence.
It is on record that Bello Matawalle submitted to INEC a NECO SSEC result written in June 2018 as part of his personal particulars in his nomination forms for the office of Governor of Zamfara State ahead of the 2023 general election. Was he qualified to sit for the June 2018 SSCE, as it is strictly a student-based internal examination ?”
Recall, this medium had reported calls by PAPSD for the investigation of the former governor, who is currently the Minister of State, Defence, for alleged certificate forgery.
PAPSD is led by a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, who is the CSO’s Executive Director.
The petition to the ICPC alleged that the minister was a member of the House of Representatives in 2018 when he reportedly sat for the National Examination Council (NECO) – a last phase test for secondary school students.
It also highlighted the guidelines for student registration for the flagship SSCE Internal (school candidates).
According to it, students are expected to present such items as their national identification number (NIN), a valid NIN, accurate biodata including names, date of birth, and other details which must match official birth certificates or previous records exactly.
It said other requirements are a passport photograph, recent and clear photographs in school uniform (with a white or blue background).
YAS Law Firm in the petition maintained that transfer or admission of candidates into Senior School 3 across different schools is strictly prohibited, as principals or Commandants of schools are duly informed that only candidates in their final year are eligible for registration.
“All candidates should do biometric data capturing in the schools to ensure that candidates cross-check their biodata and other entries for seamless registration.
No person/candidate should be allowed to capture their fingerprints on behalf of rightful candidates (impersonation),” the statement continued.
“From the above NECO guidelines for candidates to sit for SSCE, it is curious how Bello Matawalle, a former member of the House of Representatives at the time, sat for the SSCE June 2018 examination meant for regular students in their uniforms, while preparing to contest for Governor of Zamfara State in 2019, which he won on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Details of the alleged forged NECO SSCE are as follows: Centre Number: 0140300, Centre Name: Universal Academy, Kaduna, Registration No. 82806975CC, Candidate Name: Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Gender: Male. State: Zamfara State.
“Equally, Bello Matawalle has contested Local Government Chairmanship, House of Representatives, Senate and Governor from 1998 to the 2023 general elections.
“In these elections Matawalle contested, he submitted to INEC a statement of result issued by the Ministry of Education, Sokoto State, Division of Science & Technical Education, Vocational Training Centre, Bunza, (External & Internal Results) May/June 1985.
“In reply to a request for confirmation of the status of the certificate from Vocational Training Centre, Bunza: Bello Muhammed; the Federal Ministry of Education, Education Support Services Department, Evaluation and Accreditation Division, Abuja, Ref. No. EV/24/1/72 dated 28th December, 2018, signed by V. Rowland Kayode (Mrs) on behalf of the Honourable Minister stated:
“I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 17th of December 2018 on the above subject matter and to inform you that your Certificate cannot be evaluated because the auto mechanic Certificate issued to you by Ministry of Education Sokoto State Division of Science and Technical Education Vocational Training Centre, Bunza is not equivalent to a Senior School Certificate awarded by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) or National Examination Council (NECO) in Nigeria.”
“For a candidate to validly contest an election for the House of Representatives as Matawalle did, he must meet the minimum constitutional requirement as provided by Section 65(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that;
“A person shall be qualified for election under subsection (1) of this section if (a) he has been educated up to at least School certificate level or its equivalent.”
“The same is applicable for the governorship election as stipulated in Section 177(d) of the Constitution.
“It is evident that Matawalle did not meet the minimum constitutional requirement to participate in all the elections he contested. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is urged to thoroughly investigate this clear breach of the nation’s Constitution by a political office holder.
“To assist the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in carrying out a thorough investigation, the following documents are hereby enclosed.
1. Bello Mohammed Matawalle’s Vocational Training Centre statement of results 1985.
2. Copy of the Federal Ministry of Education, Education Services Support Department, Evaluation and Accreditation Division, Abuja’s letter stating that Matawalle’s Vocational Training Centre statement of result is not equivalent to a school certificate as required by the 1999 Constitution as amended, for eligibility to participate in elections.
3. Copy of the NECO SSCE June 2018.
4. Certified true copies of INEC Form CFOO 2011, Form CFOO 2019 and Form EC9 2023 for discreet investigation and necessary action.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should also investigate if indeed Matawalle attended the famous Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, as stated in the above form, though the course and the period of study were not stated.
It is in the national interest to hold elected and appointed public office holders accountable to justify the confidence citizens reposed in them. Anyone who is found guilty of a criminal offence should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
This is the only way to sanitise public service in Nigeria and build a decent democratic society that present and future generations will be proud of.
We count on the Executive Chairman’s prompt investigation of these criminal allegations against Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence,” the petition maintained.
