By Peter Inyali
A High Court of Justice sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State has granted an exparte motion to continue criminal charges against a lecturer in the University of Calabar, Dr. Eyo Mensah and others for alleged certificate forgery.
The Court was presided over by Justice Emilia Eyamba and the motion was filed by prosecution counsel, Mr. Eno Eyamba.
This followed an earlier letter sent to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Zana Akpagu by the Cross River State Director of Public Prosecution, Barr. George Okem, which said Dr. Mensah, Ferdinand Akanya Esip of IPPA department and five students; Messrs George Uwaek, Michael Paul Ufana, Mbuk Atai Umoh, Nsude Mary Imaobong and Olowosoke Olutoun Sileola are to be arraigned in court over issues bordering on certificate forgery.
The accused were however absent in Court.
But, the suspects have been under investigation following a petition written by the former Vice Chancellor, Professor James Epoke alleging that Dr. Mensah was collecting money from students to forge UNICAL certificates for them.
The letter explained that investigations have been concluded and they have been “sufficiently implicated” as such should be released by the University to stand trial in court.
According to the letter titled; “Application For The Release Of The Following Staff And Students Of The University Of Calabar To Stand Trial In An Alleged Certificate Forgery Case,” the matter was filed on the directives of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Cross River State, Mr. Joe Abang.
“I have the directives of the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice to release the above named persons of your institution to stand trial in an alleged certificate forgery case of the University.
“Upon completion of analysis of the facts of a case file received from the Police, the petition by the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Epoke, weighed against the law, our legal advice that the above persons be charged for conspiracy to commit felony and forgery in accordance with extant laws of the state having been sufficiently implicated,” the letter read.
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