Forgery case against AMAC chairman stalled as Magistrate fails to appear in court

The scheduled arraignment of the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, on allegations of certificate forgery was on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, stalled following the unexpected absence of the presiding magistrate, Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ilela, of the Dutse Magistrate Court.

Despite being listed for hearing, the proceedings in case number CR/DUT/324/25 could not go on as planned, reportedly due to Magistrate Ilela being summoned by a higher authority at the FCT High Court. The case, brought by Awalu Mohammed, a resident of AMAC and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a direct criminal complaint alleging that Maikalangu submitted forged school certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his petition, Mohammed alleged that Maikalangu, on or about January 8, 2013, submitted a forged First School Leaving Certificate purportedly from Festival Road Primary School (1983–1989) to INEC’s office at Area 10, Garki, Abuja. He further claimed that Maikalangu, in his bid for councillorship in 2013 and chairmanship in 2021, filed sworn affidavits (Form EC9) in support of personal particulars containing false academic records.

Mohammed also accused the AMAC chairman of submitting a separate forged certificate from LEA Model Science Primary School (1984–1989) to INEC in 2021. These documents, alongside affidavits for statutory declaration of age and correction of name on his voter card, were allegedly submitted as genuine, despite being falsified.

The complainant cited Sections 362(a), 363, and 264 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under which the charges were brought.

In support of his claims, Mohammed said he had obtained Certified True Copies (CTCs) of Maikalangu’s election documents—including INEC’s Form EC9, nomination forms for both the 2013 and 2021 elections, and a police investigation report—through official channels. He argued that discrepancies between the two submitted school certificates raised valid suspicions of forgery.

“I have filed this direct criminal complaint against the defendant. I hereby verify the facts contained in this complaint as true and correct to the best of my knowledge,” Mohammed stated in an affidavit supporting the complaint.

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, counsel to the complainant, Barrister Job Israel, confirmed the magistrate’s absence and explained that Ilela had earlier been seen in his office preparing for the day’s sitting before being summoned by the FCT High Court.

The case is expected to be rescheduled for a later date, even as public interest in the matter continues to grow due to the serious nature of the allegations and Maikalangu’s status as a serving public official.