By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
National Judicial Council (NJC) has instituted a five-man fact finding committee to investigate allegations of fraudulent use of another person’s diploma certificate and non-qualification for appointment against a Khadi (Judge) of the Niger state Shariah Court of Appeal, Hon. Khadi Musa Abubakar Mohammed Kigera.
Blueprint learnt that the committee had commenced investigation into the matter and that parties involved had made submissions, claims and counter claims including written addresses.
Checks revealed that the fact finding panel, in an invitation letter dated March 1, 2016, and signed by its secretary, Mrs. A. M. Balogun, directed the petitioner and respondent to appear before it on March 9 and 10, 2016, during which the matter was heard.
The petitioner claimed that Khadi Musa Abubakar Mohammed Kigera was using a diploma certificate from the College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Sokoto bearing the name of another person, Abubakar Sadiq Atiku, insisting that he never attended the college and that it was perjury for him to lay claim to the diploma certificate on oath, the basis on which he was appointed a Khadi of Shariah Court of Appeal Niger state in 2012.
Bagudu said Khadi Kigera was called to BAR in 2010 and was not qualified for the appointment as khadi in 2012 for lack of the mandatory 10 years experience required for such appointment.
However, the respondent has vehemently dismissed the allegation, insisting that he studied in the college within 1990 – 1993 where he obtained the certificate,
In his response to the petition as contained in the committee’s working papers made available to Blueprint in Minna, Kigera asserted that he did change of name in 1996 to his present name from Abubakar Sadiq Musa because of the multiplicity of persons bearing the name.
He also prayed the committee to recommend the removal of the respondent from present position as a Khadi of the Niger state Shariah Court of Appeal.