Court Adjourns Suit On AMAC Chair Alledged Certificate Forgery

The planned arraignment of Mr Christopher Maikalangu, the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) could not hold today as the matter has been subjected to judicial review before an FCT court in Gwagwalada.

The matter, which is currently before Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ilela of the Dutse Magistrates’ Court has now been adjourned indefinitely pending the determination and outcome of the judiciary review.

Maikalangu is facing an alleged certificate forgery instituted by one Mr Auwalu Mohammed an All Progressive Congress (APC) member bordering on certificate forgery.

Maikalangu, a defendant in the marked CR/DUT/324/25 was elected in 2022 as the chairperson of the local government on the platform of Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the resumed trial, counsel to the complainant, Job Peter Israel, told the court that the matter was for mention and that he was ready.

However, in his arguments, counsel to the defendant, Charles Okoye did not object but cited that the matter has been subjected to a judicial review before Justice Aliyu Yinusa Shaffa of the FCT High court, saying the rule order was served on the court on 22nd may 2025.

He then prayed the court to allow the matter to comply with the judicial review order saying efforts were made to serve the order to the complainant’s counsel, but his contact was not available.

Reacting Israel, who did not raise an objection, admitted that by virtue of the order of the high court, his client is bound by same but prayed for an accelerated hearing.

“The needful would be done by going to that court to determine our fate before coming back when the order would have been determined.”

In a short ruling, the presiding magistrate, Ilela held that: “This matter is hereby adjourned indefinitely pending the outcome of the judicial review.”

In a suit number: CR/DUT/324/25 dated March 24, 2025 Maikalangu is the first defendant with the complainant Auwalu alleging that Maikalangu, on 8th of Jan 2013, at the FCT, INEC in Abuja, submitted a forged first school leaving certificate from Festival Road Primary School (1983-1989) to the commission

AMAC is the local government that hosts Nigeria’s seat of power in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji