MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 39-year old woman, Utazi Esther, has landed in trouble for allegedly presenting a forged University certificate in order to secure a job at the Lagos State Health Centre.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Esther, has been arrested and charged for forgery and impersonation under the Criminal Laws of the State.
According to the Police, the suspect presented a forged certificate of Bachelor of Nursing Science in Nursing with Second class Honours (lower Division) from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, with which she intended to apply for a nursing job at Abim IVF Center, Ikeja.
However, the management in charge of recruitment discovered it and immediately handed her over to the Police at Alausa Division for interrogation over her conduct.
During the interrogation, the Police discovered that she actually forged the certificate, found her culpable and charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read :
“That you, Utazi Esther ‘F’, on the 20th of March,2025 at Nursing and midwifery council’s at Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, Ministry of Health, Lagos State at Ogba Magisterial District, did present forged certificate Bachelor of Nursing Science in Nursing Science with Second class Honours (lower Division) from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. which you intend to apply for a nursing job at Abim IVF center, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 365 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you ,Utazi Esther ‘F’, on 11th of March, 2025 at the Lagos State Ministry of Health ,Alausa Ikeja in the Ogba Magisterial District, did impersonate as a qualified Nurse and Midwife and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 384 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Adesumola Olasumkanmi, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Chief Magistrates, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted her bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.