The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has handed over four students to the police for allegedly forging the National Examinations Council (NECO) results to gain admission into the institution.
Effiong Etim, Solomon Victor, Abdulkabir Mohammad and Yakubu Adama have been detained in Minna, Niger State.
The suspects were arrested in October 2019 following an ongoing verification of certificate exercise embarked upon by NECO on all the higher institutions in Nigeria.
The examination body said that the move was to overhaul the institution and its certificate issuance in order to ensure that only credible certificates are issued to the public.
The suspects were expected to appear on Monday at the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse zone 2 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
However, a NECO official told reporters that the suspects may likely be arraigned before the end of the week following the failed arraignment.
Police prosecutor, Chijioke Chigozie, told reporters at the court premises on Monday that a one-count charge has been filed before the court.
Chigozie said about nine students of the university have so far been arrested over similar offence.
The charge read: “On the 18, October 2019, the registrar of the University of Abuja laid a complaint to the AIG zone 7 headquarters Abuja for investigation.
“It revealed that you Effiong Theresa Etim with June 2017 NECO SSC no 501569013, Solomon Victor June 2017 NECO SSC no: 10506512111, Abdulkabir Mohammad with June 2012 NECO SSC no: 105016543 and Yakubu Joy Adama with June 2016 NECO SSC no: 597472720.
“That these certificates upon which you gained admission or sought admission into the University of Abuja are forged certificates. You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offence.”
The students risk 14 years in prison if found guilty.
