The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission(ICPC), has dragged one Mrs. Mercy Elizabeth Onome Sheidun before a Benin High Court, Criminal Division, on a-two-count charge of alleged WAEC certificate forgery.
Charged with B/CD/ICPC/3C/24, the Defendant was was slammed with Forgery contrary to section 465 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal
Code Act Chapter C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
The particulars of offence in count 1 stated “That you MRS MERCY ELIZABETH ONOME SHEIDUN sometime in 2004 in Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did forge West African Senior School Certificate No. NGWASSCP 2584156 and candidate No.5131204146
purported to have been obtained in the December 1999 examination and used
same to process your admission into the University of Benin and the Nigerian Law
School and subsequent graduation from the aforementioned schools”.
She allegedly made false statement to a Public Officer contrary to section 25(1)(a) and punishable under section 25(1) Mb) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act 2000.
The particulars of offence in count 2 read “That you MRS MERCY ELIZABETH ONOME SHEIDUN sometime in September 2022 or thereabout, in Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made a statement to Eric N. Anona a Public Officer of the Independent Corrupt Practhces and Other Related Offences Commission, in the course of the exercise of his official duties that you obtained West African school certificate in June 1999 and
also sat for G.C.E in December 1999 and was issued two Certificates by the West
African Senior School Examination Council (WAEC), which statement MRS MERCY
ELIZABETH ONOME SHEIDUN knew to be false and untrue regarding the
authenticity of the certificates which you claimed to have obtained”.
The 1st Prosecution Witness, Eric N Anona in his proof of evidence before the court, stated that he is an investigator with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) and explain his schedule of duties.
He stated that a petition was written by one Mr. Ekundayo Sheidun against MRS MERCY ELIZABETH ONOME SHEIDUN and 4 others alleging theft, forgery and falsification of academic records. That upon the receipt of the petition, the petition was assigned to his team for investigation.
According to him, MRS MERCY ELIZABETH ONOME SHEIDUN Wrote the West African Senior School Examination (WAEC) of June 1999 and December 1999 and was issued certificate No. NGWASSCS 299119 for June 1999 examination and no certificate for December 1999 as it was canceled when WAEC realized that someone else impersonated her and wrote the examination for her, adding that WAEC canceled certificate No. NGWASSCP 473763 belonging to Mrs. Mercy Elizabeth Onome Sheidun for December 1999 West African Senior School Examination (WAEC) and also published it on page 15 of the 65 NEC impounded list of certificates on its website.
The Witness was led in evidence by Counsel to the ICPC, D Okoro and cross-examined by the Defendant’s Counsel, Olayowola Afolabi,SAN.
The Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Williams Aziegbemhin, consequently adjourned to 4th December 2024, for further hearing.
A 60-year-old woman was reportedly charged for allegedly forging a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate to gain qualifications that ultimately allowed her to become a lawyer. The incident came to light when discrepancies in her academic credentials were discovered, leading to her arrest and subsequent arraignment.
The forgery allegedly involved falsifying examination results to meet the academic prerequisites for studying law. After obtaining a law degree, she was called to the bar and practiced as a lawyer before the forgery was detected.
Authorities have charged her with forgery and other related offenses. This situation raises questions about the integrity of verification processes within educational and professional institutions.