An Enugu State High Court sitting in Enugu has adjourned the arraignment of Onoh Lambert Onuigbo, who is facing allegations of certificate forgery, due to procedural lapses that stalled the taking of his plea.
The case, instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and marked E/108C/2025, came up for hearing on January 22. However, proceedings could not move forward as scheduled.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr. B. N. Ezeani, told the court that although the matter was fixed for arraignment, a mix-up involving a motion he filed on October 7, 2025, prevented the plea from being taken. According to him, the motion—relating to his client’s bail—was not properly reflected in the court’s case file.
He added that Onuigbo had already been granted administrative bail and had consistently complied with the terms by reporting as required.
Presiding judge, Justice Chinedu Ezeugwu, expressed displeasure over the delay, describing it as unfortunate that a motion filed several months earlier could not be located in the court records. While voicing concern, the judge also faulted the defence counsel for failing to verify in advance that all necessary processes were duly captured in the case file.
Justice Ezeugwu urged both the prosecution and defence to agree on a fresh date for the defendant’s plea, stressing the importance of diligence and procedural orderliness in criminal proceedings.
Consequently, the court adjourned the matter to June 16 for plea, a date to which the prosecution counsel, Mr. Uche Akaa, raised no objection.
Onuigbo is standing trial following a petition allegedly submitted to the ICPC, accusing him of forging a Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Political Science, purportedly obtained from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
Investigations reportedly revealed that the defendant used the alleged forged certificate to contest for—and secure—election as President General of his Ngwo community in Enugu North Local Government Area. He is also accused of using the same document to facilitate his conversion from junior staff to officer cadre at the Enugu North Local Government Area headquarters, where he is currently employed.
If proven, the allegations could attract severe legal consequences, as certificate forgery and related offences carry stiff penalties under Nigerian law.
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