AMAC Chairman, Maikalangu Dragged To Court Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

The absence of Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ilela of the Dutse Magistrate Court on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, allegedly stalled the arraignment of the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu, for alleged certificate forgery.

In spite of the fact that the case was scheduled on the day’s list before Chief Magistrates Abdullahi Ilela of Court I, it could not proceed due to the absence of the presiding Magistrate.

Accordingly, the case which was as a result of direct criminal complaint instituted by Awalu Mohammed, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), resident in AMAC.

In the case with number: CR/DUT/324/25 dated March 24, the AMAC chairman is the sole accused person by Mohammed alleged that Maikalangu, on or about January 8, 2013, at the FCT Independent National Electoral Commission Office, Area 10, Garki District, Abuja, submitted a forged First School Leaving Certificate from Festival Road Primary School {1983-1989} to the commission.

According to him, the chairman, sometime in 2013 and 2021 in line with the requirement of the Electoral Act, submitted his sworn FORM EC9 to INEC and Affidavit in support of personal particulars of persons seeking election to the Councillorship (2013) Chairmanship (2021) position, Abuja Municipal Area Council) to FCT Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mohammed further alleged that the forged certificate was among other submitted documents included in Maikalangu’s “INEC FORM C.F. 001, for councillorship position, “knowing it to be forged, with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine.”

The petitioner also alleged that Maikalangu, on or about May 8, 2021, submitted a forged First School Leaving Certificate from LEA Model Science Primary School (1984-1989) at the INEC for election purposes.

Mohammed further claimed that the document was submitted alongside the court affidavit for statutory declaration of age, and the court affidavit for correction of name on voter card, “knowing them to be forged and with intent that they may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine.”

Mohammed therefore accused Maikalangu, the AMAC chairman of committing the offence of forgery contrary to Sections 362(a), 363 and 264 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

In the affidavit in support of his claims, Mohammed stressed that he was duty bound to expose the commission of crime(s) by any person, including the defendant, public officials, agencies or institutions howsoever described, whose acts could embarrass and dent the prestige and good name of Nigeria.

In his words; “I have filed this direct criminal complaint against the defendant. I hereby verify the facts contained in this direct criminal complaint as true and correct to the best of my knowledge.”

Mohammed said upon his application, Maikalangu’s Certified True Copy (CTC) of Form EC9, containing his affidavit in support of personal particulars, was made available to him, including the CTCs of the necessary documents, and INEC Forms 001 for Mr Maikalangu ‘s councillorship election {2013} and chairmanship poll (2021) and a report of Investigation by the police to the Tribunal Secretary, FCT Area Council Election Tribunal were equally handed to him.

He further said that the Electoral Tribunal secretary issued to him CTCs of the chairman’s form for nomination of councillorship in 2013 as well as chairmanship in 2021, INEC Forms 001, and other documents in the tribunal’s custody relating to the fact of the issue.

In the words of Mohammed; “Based on the response from the FCT High Court, I verily believe that the affidavit for correction of name, and the affidavit for declaration of age sworn to by the defendant was forged.

“Based on the above differences between the two certificates, I verily believe that the defendant submitted a forged First School Leaving Certificate to INEC on or about sometimes in 2013 and 2021,” he alleged.

At the Magistrates Court on Wednesday, counsel to the complainant, Job Israel, who was in court later told journalists that the chief magistrate was earlier in his office in preparation for today’s sitting, but, was however, invited by the higher authority at the FCT High Court.