Bomadi, Delta State – In a swift response to recent allegations of forged school certificates, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, the representative of Patani/Bomadi Constituency in the House of Representatives, has vehemently denied the claims. Mutu, known for his commitment to public service, has accused his political opponent of orchestrating a malicious campaign to defame him.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Mr. Ebitimi Ogbomah, Mutu asserted that the publication making these allegations originated from his political adversary, who had previously contested against him in the 2019 general elections but failed to secure victory. He urged the public to disregard the publication as a mere attempt to tarnish his reputation for political gain.
Reacting to the front-page article titled “Certificate Scandal Rocks NASS” published by The Pilot Newspaper on May 22, 2023, Mutu criticized the publication, stating that it was driven by ill intentions, aimed at blackmailing and misinforming the general public. He also expressed disappointment with the publisher, Mr. Dennis Sami, for his lack of professionalism and failure to conduct thorough investigations before going to press.
Mutu challenged the publisher to seek responses from the relevant schools to verify the authenticity of his certificates. He emphasized that the certificates in question had not been proven fake or forged by any educational institution. Mutu further called upon the publisher and his associates to request a Certified True Copy (CTC) of his certificates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and showcase it to the public.
Furthermore, the lawmaker highlighted that the National Assembly, as the authority responsible for profiling its members, possesses accurate records of all elected representatives from 1999 to the present. Mutu disputed the reliability of the Lawmaker Magazine and other sources referenced by The Pilot Newspaper, pointing out that those publications were released before his tenure in the House of Representatives.
Regarding the St. Clements University Certificate, Mutu advised The Pilot Newspaper and other interested parties to conduct a simple Google search, which would yield sufficient information to verify its validity. He also mentioned that he possessed a letter from the Rivers State School of Basic Studies, now known as Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, which acknowledged the genuineness of his certificate and included the WAEC master list as supporting evidence. Additionally, Mutu highlighted court judgments, police reports, and documents from the National Assembly that vindicate his position.
To counter the allegations of certificate forgery, Mutu disclosed that the Federal High Court had previously ruled on the matter, dismissing the case on its merits. This legal decision, recognized internationally through res judicata, provides conclusive evidence of his innocence. Furthermore, he revealed that the Nigerian Police Force had investigated the allegations and found no evidence of forgery or criminal involvement, recommending prosecution against those who had made false accusations.
Reiterating his innocence, Mutu emphasized that the National Assembly had also conducted its own independent investigations, resulting in his exoneration from the impersonation allegations. He expressed disappointment that the publisher of The Pilot Newspaper, Mr. Sami, had refused to review the documents and evidence presented to him.
Concluding his statement, Mutu condemned the publication as a baseless attempt to defame and blackmail him. He vowed to pursue legal action against Mr. Sami and The Pilot newspaper, seeking special, general, and punitive damages in a court of competent jurisdiction.
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