Police authorities are in a dilemma on what to do to a case of serial forgeries brought against the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists,Chief Chris Isiguzo by a member of the Union,Mr. Akindele Orimolade.
Akindele had in a petition through his lawyer Mr Obinna Okeke,Esq. dated 4th day of October 2021 called on the Inspector General of Police(IGP), Usman Alkali Baba to investigate Isiguzo's multiple forgeries.
The IGP sent the petition to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for discreet investigation.
The case, according to police sources was assigned to Team J of the Force Investigation Bureau (FIB) in November 2021.
The investigating team wrote series of letters to the Federal Polytechnic Oko where Isiguzo claimed to have graduated with a Higher National Diploma certificate in June 1998 and a Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication in December 1998,the Enugu state judiciary where he claimed to have sworn to an affidavit, Winners Communication where he said he started his journalism work and This Day newspaper where he is currently one of the editors.
In January,2022, Enugu state judiciary wrote the investigating team at the FIB that after a painstaking investigation in it's administration and accounts departments it was clear that the affidavit which he wanted to use to consolidate his four aliases ( Mr. Chris Isiguzo,Ikechukwu C, Isinguzoro Ikechukwu C, Isinguzoro Ikechukwu Christopher and Isiguzo Christopher Chuks) was forged and did not emanate from Enugu state judiciary.
On February 28,this year, the Registrar of Federal Polytechnic Oko and a gentleman from the legal department of the school visited the Area 10 office of FBI with a letter stating clearly that Isiguzo did not attend the school and could therefore not have its certificates adding that whatever he is having was forged!
This Day newspaper wrote the FIB that fire gutted its office some years ago and destroyed documents including Isiguzo's certificates. They regretted they could not help the police in its investigation.
It was after the duo got back to Oko that Isiguzo knew he was under investigation. He stormed the FIB in early March after a serving governor and a serving senator both from the South East geopolitical zone had watered the ground for him. It was a fiasco! He arrived the building formerly used as Force Headquarters with the toga of a Chief, National President of NUJ but left as a criminal on life support.
According to a source close to the investigators, Isiguzo who came in company of somebody he introduced as NUJ consultant "was sweating from the anus when the investigators were through with him.
He was alleged to have gone back to the Jahi National Headquarters of the Union devastated. According to sources close to the NUJ headquarters, he ordered a female staff to go and withdraw N500,000 which was taken to a female policeman. From that day, it was naira rain for the policemen. His plea was that they should not conclude investigation till he would finish his second term in office.This allegation has ,however not been independently confirmed.
However, Orimolade and his lawyer also mounted pressure on the police to do the needful. Grudgingly, the concluded investigation and wrote the final report on October,this year and according to a source close to the investigators, the report is to be "KIV" - keep in view until Jesus comes.
Worried by the development, Orimolade through his lawyer wrote a reminder to the police boss dated 1st December,2022.
Part of the two - page letter which was acknowledged at the ground floor registry of the Force Headquarters reads;
" On 4th day of October,2021, we wrote a petition to your good office(s) in respect of the above subject matter. The said petition was assigned to "Team J" of the Force Investigation Department (FCID) to investigate.
"The above - mentioned team carried out a very marvellous, diligent, painstaking and professional investigation activity in respect of the said petition. However, our client became apprehensive since the suspect (Mr. Chris Isiguzo) above mentioned has gone to make statement, started boasting to some of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that this particular petition will die like every other petition in the past that was written against him to other crime and anti - corruption agencies in the past that all he needs is time to kill this petition because our client and other members of the NUJ, knows his stock in trade
"Sir, this is a sensitive and high - profile case which will help in boosting your administration's image which is known for having zero tolerance, for corruption,crime and criminality", Mr. Okeke Esq. stressed.
But Isiguzo is always an untouchable and a master of the game. Four years ago when the Egalitarian Mission Africa wrote a petition dated 13th November,2018 to the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices &Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and another " reminder and request for an update dated 20th of June 2019, Isiguzo moved in like a tsunami and up till tomorrow, the executive brief written on the matter is gathering dust.
In the instant investigation, Isiguzo did some research on the IGP and concluded that money alone may not achieve the desired goal. He learnt the IGP loves awards and national Honours.
To get the IGP to put his case file on the "KIV" shelve permanently, Isiguzo has hurriedly packaged an award ceremony for the IGP in Lagos for next week. His goons are said to be on ground to ensure only journalists that are friends with him have access to the venue of the event.
But a group of journalists tagged "Integrity Group Nigeria Union of Journalists" have written the IGP urging him to reject what they called tainted award.
The letter dated 30th November,2022 was signed by Mustapha Saye, Mohammed Saidu and Abubakar Ahmed.
The letter reads:
" We are registered members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) and compelled to write you this letter.
"We are reliably informed that the National President of the NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, has concluded plans to give you an award this December.
"We are, however, compelled to inform you that, the said Chris Isiguzo has undergone investigation, ordered by your humble self, as a result of a petition sent to your office on the 4th of October, 2021, written by one of our senior and respected colleague, in the person of Akindele Olawumi Orimolade.
"The petition borders on allegations of certificate forgery of the Polytechnic, Isiguzo claimed to have attended; and a Court Affidavit on four names Chris Isiguzo is claiming.
"Sir, you may wish to call for the outcome of the investigation which, to our knowledge, has been concluded about three months ago but action is yet to be taken on it.
"We view the attempt by Chris Isiguzo to systematically give you an award, as a way of giving you a Greek gift coated in that texture.
"We, humbly wish to appeal to you to decline the award because we equally see it as a bribe!
"Sir, still on the petition, you acted immediately by directing the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force CID, to investigate the petition
"Team J at the FIB started investigation in November 2021.
"In January, 2022, Enugu state judiciary wrote to FIB confirming that Isiguzo's affidavit was forged.
"On 28th February, 2022, the Registrar of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra state where Isiguzo claimed to have attended, was invited to the FIB (after Investigators visited the school) and also confirmed that Isiguzo's certificates were forged.
"From our findings as journalists, a Forensic test conducted by the investigating team at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission laboratory, revealed that a Deputy Registrar in the school was responsible for the forged Ordinary Diploma; and even a HND certificate, issued to Isiguzo.
"The Deputy Registrar was also invited to FIB to make a statement under caution three months ago of which she appeared about a month ago.
"IGP Sir, we decided not to make the investigation a media issue in order to allow the officers involved to concentrate on their work, even though we are disturbed that by now, action must have been taken because of all the glaring evidences with the Police, but yet to be taken.
"Although we cannot categorically say that Mr. Isiguzo compromised the officers after all the relevant evidence before the Police, but it may interest the IGP to know that Mr. Isiguzo tried to compromise the petitioner; and he indeed paid eight million naira ( N8m) into the petitioners salary account through the petitioner's forme Publisher. This issue was also presented before the investigators at the FIB.
"Sir, on the award, we have keenly followed your activities not only as the IGP but also on your personal life. We came to understand that you are one that abhors lies , deceit and dishonesty.
"You have been able to maintain and establish an unblemished career as a Police Officer, culminating into your becoming the IGP.
"In this respect, we want to respectfully request for two things; reject the tainted award; and kindly follow-up on the investigation you ordered one year ago.
"We are only seeking for Justice and we are optimistic that once you know the outcome of the investigation you would ensure that Justice is achieved through the Courts.
"The President of the NUJ should not be above the law. There was a time when a Speaker of the House of Representatives was prosecuted because of certificate forgery.
"Many influential personalities had, at one time or the other faced similar treatments because of certificate forgery.
"This should not be an isolated case.
"A petition was written to the Police because of our strong believe that ONLY the Police can unravel the mystery, as Isiguzo has been able to block all attempts to bring him to book.
" On this we believe!
"Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.
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