Get Guardian on GoogleA governorship hopeful of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State, Chief Obodoeze Chukwuma Ocho, on Friday, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), seeking an investigation into allegations of forgery involving Governor Peter Mbah’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
Ocho, through his solicitor, Ejikeme Ignatius Ugwu of Ejike Ugwu & Associates, urged the IGP to order a discreet investigation into the authenticity of the NYSC certificate allegedly submitted by Mbah to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2022.
In the petition dated October 20, 2026, the lawyer alleged that the governor submitted a National Service certificate bearing number LA/FRN/01/808297 to INEC.
According to the petition, Omas & Partners had, in a letter dated November 23, 2022, approached the Director-General of NYSC under the Freedom of Information Act, seeking clarification on the authenticity and legal status of the certificate.
The petition stated that the NYSC, in its response dated February 1, 2023, and signed by Ibrahim A. Muhammad, confirmed that the certificate was not issued by the corps.
The petition was signed by Ejikeme Ignatius Ugwu of Ejike Ugwu & Associates on behalf of Chief Obodoeze Chukwuma Ocho.
It further stated that the then Director-General of NYSC reiterated the organisation’s position during an interview with Arise Television, maintaining that the certificate allegedly presented by Mbah did not emanate from the corps.
Ocho, through his lawyer, argued that although the governor enjoys constitutional immunity from criminal prosecution under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, such immunity does not prevent the police from investigating allegations of criminal conduct.
The petition cited the Supreme Court judgment in Chief Gani Fawehinmi v. Inspector-General of Police (2002) 7 NWLR (Pt. 767) 606, which the lawyer relied upon to support his argument that constitutional immunity does not preclude the investigation of criminal allegations against a sitting governor.
Expressing concern over the implications of the allegation, Ocho said through his solicitor that failure to investigate the matter could send the wrong signal to younger Nigerians about the consequences of certificate forgery, particularly in relation to public office.
He consequently called on the Inspector-General of Police to initiate a discreet investigation into the certificate, identify anyone found culpable and ensure that appropriate action is taken in accordance with the law.
