A forgery scandal has hit the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja, following claims that a senior official, Mr. Nwankwoeze Williamson Chijioke, currently serving as Director of Lands in the Mass Housing Department (MHD) of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), allegedly forged his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate.
Chijioke is alleged to use same certificate to secure higher academic qualifications and rise through the ranks of the Nigerian civil service.
According to documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, Chijioke allegedly presented the OND statement of result purportedly issued by the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, which he used to gain admission into the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, where he later obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Architectural Technology.
The forged OND result, multiple sources said, became the foundation upon which his entire academic and professional career was built.
Investigations revealed that after securing the HND using the OND, Nwankwoeze went on to acquire additional qualifications, including a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) and a Master’s degree in an undisclosed field.
Over time, the credentials reportedly facilitated his steady rise to the position of Director of Lands — one of the most sensitive and influential offices within the FCDA hierarchy.
A source familiar with the case told SaharaReporters that the revelations had triggered “shock and outrage” within certain circles in the ministry.
“This man built his entire academic and professional career on a fake foundation,” the source alleged. “If the OND is forged, every other qualification after that collapses. It means his admission to Oko Polytechnic — and by extension, all his later certificates — are invalid. It’s a classic case of systemic fraud hiding in plain sight.”
The source added that while whispers about the director’s questionable credentials had circulated for years, the scandal only gained traction after a civic watchdog decided to pursue a formal verification process.
A legal firm reportedly wrote to the Kwara State Polytechnic seeking official confirmation of the authenticity of Mr. Nwankwoeze’s OND certificate.
In a formal response dated March 12, 2025, and addressed to the firm, Ike, Ike & Associates, the institution categorically denied ever issuing the said certificate.
The letter, signed by Ibrahim Eletu Saka, Deputy Registrar (Examinations and Records), stated that the document did not emanate from the school and was therefore fake.
The letter read in part: “RE: Request for Confirmation or Otherwise of Your Institution’s Statement of Result of Mr. Nwankwoeze, Williamson Chijioke in Respect of Award of Diploma in Architectural Technology.
NAME: Nwankwoeze Williamson Chijioke
COURSE: ND Architectural Technology
GRADE: Lower Credit
YEAR OF GRADUATION: 1996
REMARK: FAKE — produce original statement of result.”
Armed with the confirmation from Kwara Polytechnic, the civic accountability group, Dependable Patriots for Nation Building and Transformation Initiative (DPNBTI) petitioned several key authorities — including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Presidency — demanding a full-scale investigation and prosecution of the director for forgery, perjury, and conspiracy.
In the petition dated July 2, 2025, the group accused Chijioke Nwankwoeze of using a falsified academic record to secure employment and subsequent promotions within the civil service, in clear violation of Nigerian criminal law and public service regulations.
“Our investigation revealed that Nwankwoeze Chijioke, the current Director of Lands at the FCDA, submitted a forged statement of result dated January 16, 1997, purportedly from Kwara State Polytechnic, to gain admission into Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and later employment in the civil service,” the petition stated.
“The said result has been disowned and declared fake by Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, in its official letter dated March 12, 2025.”
The group further reminded law enforcement that under Nigerian law, forgery carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment, while perjury attracts fourteen years.
It urged the IGP to “use his good offices” to prosecute the suspect and recover all financial benefits derived from his alleged deception.
“The law is not silent on these offences. Sections 463–466 of the Criminal Code Act define forgery and prescribe a three-year jail term, while Sections 117 and 118 define perjury and stipulate fourteen years’ imprisonment,” the petition read.
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the documentary evidence submitted, SaharaReporters gathered that no decisive action had been taken by authorities months after the petition was filed.
Due to the lack of response from the authorities, DPNBTI, through its Incorporated Trustees, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, filing a motion to compel the police to investigate and prosecute Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
The suit — FHC/ABJ/CS/2050/2025 — lists three defendants: the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and Mr. Nwankwoeze Williamson Chijioke.
Filed under Order 34 Rule 3(1)-(3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, Section 4 of the Police Act, 2020, and Section 6(6) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the application seeks two key reliefs: An Order of Mandamus compelling the IGP and NPF to investigate and prosecute Mr. Nwankwoeze for forgery and perjury relating to the falsified OND certificate.
An Order for Substituted Service, granting leave to serve court documents on the director through alternative means due to alleged difficulties in personal service.
“This is a test of institutional accountability,” the group’s counsel said.
“When law enforcement refuses to act on clear evidence of forgery, it erodes public confidence. The court must ensure the rule of law prevails.”
The motion, stamped and filed at the Federal High Court Registry, Abuja, on September 23, 2025, has since been assigned to a trial judge for hearing.
The unfolding case is the latest in a string of certificate forgery scandals plaguing Nigeria’s public sector — from state assemblies and ministries to federal agencies.
Numerous civil servants and political appointees have been caught using fake credentials to gain employment or promotions, underscoring a persistent challenge to meritocracy and institutional integrity in the Nigerian bureaucracy.
