By Our Correspondent
A fresh political storm is brewing in Zamfara State as a coalition of concerned indigenes, under the aegis of Zamfara State Concerned Citizens (ZSCC), has announced plans to institute legal action against the Minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, over alleged certificate fraud.
The group, led by Barrister Musa Abdullahi, alleged that Matawalle relied on a certificate obtained from the Vocational Training Centre, Bunza, to contest for the office of governor and subsequently secure appointment as a minister—despite what it described as unresolved questions regarding the certificate's compliance with constitutional requirements.
Under Nigerian law, forgery, certificate falsification, and obtaining advantage by false pretence are criminal offences punishable by imprisonment, fines, or both. The Constitution and various electoral statutes require public office holders to provide truthful information regarding their educational qualifications. Where it is established that an individual submitted a forged certificate or made false declarations, such a person may be disqualified from holding office, removed from office, and prosecuted before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The group further argued that public office is a position of trust that demands honesty, transparency, and strict compliance with the law. It maintained that any public office holder found to have secured office through false credentials could face disqualification, removal from office, and prosecution. The ZSCC also contended that salaries, allowances, benefits, and privileges allegedly obtained through such misrepresentation should be recovered by the appropriate authorities.
“We believe that no individual should be allowed to benefit from public office through misrepresentation. The law must apply equally to everyone, irrespective of status or position,” Abdullahi said.
The group criticised Matawalle's public interventions on security matters, accusing him of making statements capable of generating unnecessary controversy at a time when citizens expect reassurance and constructive engagement from leaders. It noted that the planned court action is not about an individual but about protecting the sanctity of public office and ensuring that honesty remains a fundamental requirement for leadership.
The ZSCC stressed that public officials must be held to the highest ethical standards, warning that failure to address allegations of credential fraud could erode public confidence in governance and send the wrong message to younger generations. It vowed to pursue the matter through all lawful channels.
As of press time, Matawalle had not publicly responded to the allegations.
Tags
News