Certificate forgery scandal: You have a case to answer, court tells former lawmaker Rita Orji

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered Rita Orji, a former House of Representatives member, to be investigated by the Nigeria Police Force for alleged certificate fraud.

The former federal lawmaker, who represented the Ajeromi/Ifelodum federal seat from 2015 to 2019, was accused of falsifying her West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate.

The allegation is contained in a petition by one Uche David Esomonu, pending against her at the Firce headquarters, Abuja.

The petition alleged that Orji who was in the lower Chambers and represented the Ajeromi/Ifelodun federal district between 2015 and 2019.

Acting on the said petition, the force headquarters summoned her for interview, inquiry, and possible prosecution regarding the claim but she declined the invitation.

She filed a suit against the Police, claiming that her invitation was an infringement on her fundamental human rights.

She urged the court to stop the command from investigating her.

Orji further insisted that the Police were violating her fundamental human rights.
But delivering judgment on the case, Justice Kawu Bello ruled that Orji had a case to answer in the investigation of her WAEC certificate by the police.

He added that the Nigeria Police Force is empowered to investigate any petition brought before them according to section 200 of the constitution.

The judge dismissed the matter and ordered Rita Orji to make herself available to the police for investigation.