…QUIZ NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER, ORS

A dangerous twist has emerged in the ongoing alleged West African Examination Council (WAEC)  certificate forgery case between Mr. Akan Okon and Pastor Umo Eno over Police investigations and the discovery of a fake confirmation letter by syndicates allegedly sponsored by the former Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Akan Okon.

Police investigations have established that the WAEC confirmation letter purporting that Pastor Umo Eno’s data was not found on the WAEC database earlier published by TheMAIL newspaper and other social media platforms was forged by corrupt individuals working for the former Commissioner for Economic Development.

The revelation has, however, led to the Police invitation of TheMAIL newspaper Editor, Mfreke Nseowo, who appeared by proxy through the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, who pleaded on his behalf.

Meanwhile, more groups and individuals have commended the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigerian Police for its swiftness and resolve in investigations into a forged letter purportedly emanating from the West African Examination Council and published in the Mail Newspaper.

The latest of these is the Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance, a sociopolitical group, which through its Chairman, Barrister Stephen Abia said the police is living up to its expectation of busting criminality in the state, particularly, cases of forgery and impersonation.

Barrister Abia described as false, the claims that the police, on the directive of highly placed individuals is intimidating and threatening to send the Editor of TheMail Newspaper, Mfreke Nseowo, to jail on account of his publication.

In an interaction with newsmen in Uyo, Abia, who is also a legal luminary, noted that the investigation by the police, to unravel those behind the forged WAEC letter dated April 8th, 2022, has nothing whatsoever, to do with any individual, government, or the police; but everything to do with forgery and criminal impersonation by The Mail Newspaper and its cohorts.

“To guard the sanctity of its integrity, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) had written a letter to the police, disclaiming a letter dated 8th April 2022, that was published by The Mail Newspaper and its cohorts- affirming that it did not emanate from them, because it had all the trappings of forgery and deception as reflected in the address, the signature, and the official stamp.”

“Sequel to this, the Police swung into investigations to unravel the source of the purported letter from WAEC that was published by The Mail Newspaper and the persons involved in the invention of the falsified letter.”

“The imperative of the investigation is underscored by the fact that ‘injustice to one, Is injustice to all. A clear dichotomy needs to be made between ethical journalistic writing and criminal impersonation, which defined the said publication by The Mail Newspaper.

“Those involved in the forgery of the WAEC headed paper and the
impersonation of the West African Examination Council has section 484 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code and the law, in general, to grapple with, and not any individual. That section of the law states, inter alia, thus: “Any person who with intent to defraud any person or falsely represent himself to be some other person, living or dead, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years. As the saying goes, ‘He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.’ This is an ample opportunity for all concerned to exonerate themselves before the law.”

Recall that The Mail Newspaper published a letter purportedly emanating from the West African Examination Council (WAEC), dated April 8, 2022, disclaiming a document duly issued by the agency.

Mr. Akan Okon who has served as a commissioner in the Akwa Ibom state government for about nine years resigned to contest the governorship candidate of PDP in the last guber primaries.

Since his inability to defeat the incumbent candidate in the contest held at the next of champions, Okon has embarked on endlessly scheming as his plan to get the coveted slot.

The TOWNCRIER NEWSPAPER had earlier reported that the syndicates have already confessed to having collected the sum of #2 million naira as an initial deposit from one Akan Okon to issue a conflicting statement to get Mr. Umo Eno the PDP governorship candidate disqualified by the Court.

The syndicates according to our source who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter said Mr. Okon who came a distant second with 3 votes in the primaries that threw up Umo Eno as PDP candidate told the crooks that once Umo Eno is sacked, he will become the candidate and next governor of Akwa Ibom state.

They were also promised lucrative contracts from Akwa Ibom state government under Akan Okon as governor and a house each in Lagos or any state of their choice.

The source who vowed to give relevant information and testimonies when the time comes revealed that Mr. Akan Okon in desperation to get WAEC to aid his governorship ambition had earlier gone to the Ghana Headquarters of the body to seal the deal but met a brick wall.