Inyali Peter|27 April 2018
The High Court sitting in Calabar has granted hearing into criminal charges against a lecturer of the University of Calabar, Eyo Mensah, and others including five students, over certificate forgery allegations.
Justice Emilia Eyamba, on Thursday granted a motion exparte by prosecution counsel, Eno Eyamba, seeking to continue with criminal charges against the accused.
The accused were absent in court.
In an earlier letter sent to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Zana Akpagu by the Cross River State Director of Public Prosecution, Barr. George Okem, Dr. Mensah, Ferdinand Akanya Esip of IPPA department and five students, George Uwaek, Michael Paul Ufana, Mbuk Atai Umoh, Nsude Mary Imaobong, Olowosoke Olutoun Sileola are to be arraigned in court over issues bordering on certificate forgery.
It would be recalled that the suspects have been under investigation over a petition written by the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Epoke alleging that Dr. Eyo Mensah was collecting money from students to forge Unical certificate for them.
The letter explained that investigation 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 directives of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Cross River State.
"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 person be charged for conspiracy to commit felony and forgery in accordance with extant laws of the state having been sufficiently implicated".
