The planned arraignment of the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu, on charges of certificate forgery, was stalled on Wednesday due to the absence of Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ilela at the Dutse Magistrates’ Court in Abuja. The matter, which appeared on the day’s cause list for Court I, was rescheduled for April 24.
The case stems from a direct criminal complaint filed by Awalu Mohammed, a member of the All Progressives Congress and a resident of AMAC.
In case number CR/DUT/324/25, dated March 24, Maikalangu is listed as the sole defendant.
According to the complaint, Mohammed alleges that Maikalangu submitted a forged First School Leaving Certificate from Festival Road Primary School, dated 1983–1989, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Abuja on or about January 8, 2013.
The certificate was allegedly part of documents included in INEC Form C.F. 001 for his councillorship bid, submitted with knowledge of its falsity and the intent that it be accepted as genuine.
The complainant also claims that on or about May 8, 2021, Maikalangu again submitted a forged certificate—this time from LEA Model Science Primary School (1984–1989)—for the purpose of contesting the AMAC chairmanship.
Mohammed alleges that the document was submitted alongside affidavits for age declaration and correction of name on a voter card, which he also believes were falsified.
He accuses Maikalangu of violating Sections 362(a), 363, and 264 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which deal with forgery and related offenses.
In a verifying affidavit, Mohammed said he felt obligated to expose any alleged wrongdoing by public officials, asserting that such acts, if proven, could tarnish Nigeria’s image.
He stated that Maikalangu submitted sworn INEC Form EC9 documents in 2013 and 2021, as required by the Electoral Act, and that certified true copies of those forms were released to him following an application.
He further noted that police investigation reports and additional documents obtained from the FCT Area Council Election Tribunal suggest discrepancies in the certificates submitted by the chairman in both elections. Mohammed concluded that the differences between the two school certificates raise serious questions about their authenticity.
Counsel to the complainant, Job Israel, was present in court on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after the adjournment, Israel alleged that although the magistrate had been in his office earlier that day in preparation for the hearing, he was summoned by higher authorities at the FCT High Court, resulting in the case being postponed.