Law School Student, 1 Other Remanded Over Impersonation During Bar Exams

By Clement A. Oloyede

A student of the Nigerian Law School, Bwari Campus, Okeke Chikeobi Francis has been remanded along with his alleged accomplice, Valentine Wisdom Ubi, for forgery and impersonation during the school’s final bar exams.

The defendants are standing trial before an FCT High Court in Kubwa on a five-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy, forgery, using as genuine a forged document (Nigerian Law School ID Card) and cheating by personation during Bar 2 examination of the law school. These offences, according to the prosecution, are contrary Sections 96, 363, 366 and 321 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution counsel, Barrister Adewumi Aluko, a principal state counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, told the court that Francis, a student of Nigerian Law School, Bwari campus, contracted Ubi of Army Estate, 8 Mile, Calabar, Cross River State, a graduate of law, University of Calabar, Cross River State to write on his behalf, Bar 2 Final examinations conducted by the Nigerian Law School, Bwari campus.

“The 2nd defendant (Ubi) had already written three papers and was in the process of concluding the 4th paper (civil litigation) on 21st August, 2019 when he was caught.

“The 2nd defendant (Ubi) was caught writing Civil Litigation with a forged Student ID Card of the Nigerian Law School, Bwari campus. The said forged student ID card was bearing the name of the 1st defendant (Francis) with the passport photograph of the 2nd defendant.

“The 2nd defendant was arrested in the examination hall, he then took the police to Chambers Hotel, Tudun Fulani, Bwari, Abuja where the 1st defendant was apprehended and brought to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Bwari,” Aluko told the court in the summary of the prosecution’s case.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them, where ordered to be remanded in a custodial centre by the judge, Justice Bello Kawu. The judge further adjourned the matter to May 12 for hearing of their bail applications.