The Inspector General of Police has brought forth a forgery case against Benson Konbowei,the senator representing Bayelsa Central. The charges, outlined in suit CR/028/2023, accuse the senator of several offenses, notably the forgery of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate.
According to the police, Senator Konbowei is alleged to have contravened sections 366,156, and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, making him subject to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act. He stands as the sole defendant in this legal matter.
The charges specify that the senator purportedly forged a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ bearing number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008.
Additionally, he is accused of using this fraudulent document to contest elections and gain admission into academic programs.
Count two of the charges states: “That you, Benson Friday Konbowei, sometime in March 2014 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory fraudulently used as genuine a certain document to wit: Certificate of Exemption Number 000256454 dated 4th of July 2008 signed by the Director-General, NYSC, Directorate Headquarters, Abuja to the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest election into the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in 2015 election, which you won and represented Southern Ijaw Constituency IV and the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District National Assembly election conducted on February 25, 2023, which you won and currently a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“And you also submitted four copies of the same forged NYSC certificate to gain admission into the School of Postgraduate Studies of the Imo State University, Owerri, which you then knew to be a forged document and you submitted four copies of the forged Certificate of Exemption Number 000256454 dated July 4, 2008, as a compulsory requirement to the School of Postgraduate Studies of the Imo State.”
The legal proceedings will determine the outcome of these allegations against Senator Konbowei, who maintains innocence until proven guilty.
