Crime

Mother of 5 Convicted for Forging Late Abba Kyari’s Signature

Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 13, 2024

News Views: 197

A verdict was reached at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, finding Mrs. Ramat Mba, a mother of five, guilty of forging the signature of the late Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Presiding Judge Ibrahim Mohammad postponed Mrs. Mba’s sentencing until Thursday, May 16, 2024, but ordered her immediate remand at Suleja Correctional Centre.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought charges against Mrs. Mba in June 2022. She faced a five-count indictment including cheating, fraud, and forgery, contravening various sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 200 and Sections 320 (b), 366 of the Penal Code Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria.

One of the counts read: “That you Ramat Mba (f) sometimes in October 2019, or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court did fraudulently induce one Mr Ismail Oladipupo, an unsuspecting job seeker and collected N700,000 from him which sum was paid into your private account under the guise of securing employment for him at the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASDRA and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320(b) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria.”

During the trial, the ICPC’s Prosecutor, Mr. Hamza Sani, presented evidence detailing how Mrs. Mba misled victims by promising employment at government agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Additionally, documentary evidence revealed Mrs. Mba’s fraudulent forgery of a letterhead from the Office of the Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, including Mr. Kyari’s signature. The falsified letter, addressed to the ICPC Chairman, requested the recruitment of three individuals by the Commission. However, evidence showed that Mr. Kyari, in written correspondence presented as an exhibit, disavowed any authorization of the letter or its contents.

In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad convicted Mrs. Mba on counts 1, 2, 3, and 5 related to cheating and forgery. However, she was acquitted on count 4, which pertained to felony.