By Saio Marrah
A 29-year-old accused Ibrahim Sillah, a 31-year-old Mohamed Sheriff Nallo and another 31-year-old Bobson Massaquoi as first, second and third accused respectively, have appeared before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown for allegedly forging Njala University Certificates.
The three accused arraigned before the court on Tuesday 6th June 2023 were not allowed to say a word after their three counts of conspiracy to forge and uttering forged documents readout.
The court leant that between 2021 and 2023 in Bo town the three conspired with others to forge one Njala University Degree in the name of Mohamed Alpha Sheriff, and one Higher Teachers Certificate from Njala in the name of one Bobson Massaquoi.
The three accused are also said to have between 1st March and 2nd April 2023, forged another Njala University degree and a Higher Teacher’s certificate purported to have been signed by the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the University.
A bail application by the Defence Lawer, Mohamed Golfa, was approved on the condition of providing two sureties with each and that the sureties must be lecturers of tertiary institutions with the current national identity card.
In another separate case, 28-year-old Abdulai Turay also appeared before the same magistrate court for allegedly claiming to be a holder Philosopher of Doctorate (PhD) and that he collected a total of NLE 13,500 from Francis Morlai Lincoln and his friends.
Lincoln, as the first prosecution witness (PW1) told the court that on 3 April this year, the accused met him at Robert Lane Kossoh town, saying he knew PW1 at Njala Mokonde campus.
He told the court that the accused introduced himself as Dr Abdulai Turay and that he lectures Njala University Master’s students at Henry Street in Freetown.
“He asked me have you done your master’s programme? I said no. he then asked why? I said due to the high cost” and that the accused said, “You are lucky as I am ready to facilitate your scholarship for you to pursue your master’s degree next academic year.”
The PW1 narrated how he took the accused to his parents and how they appreciated him.
The witness noted that after giving the accused an amount of NLE 1,400, the accused told him that he had space for five master’s students.
The court learnt from PW1 that he informed his colleagues, who were already pursuing their master’s programme at Henry Street about the opportunity.
According to him, the accused said it cost NLE 5,000 each but he will reduce it to NLE 3,000 for his sake.
“One of them told me to meet him at Teaching Service Commission for his own money. Dr Turay and I went there and he gave me NLE 3,000 and a passport photo, which I gave to the accused,” he testified.
PW1 said he later called and informed his in-law, Aroun Sahr Tengbeh about it, who also send his own money to the accused through Orange Money and that the accused acknowledged it.
The witness also said another friend, Aiah Kaloko also send his money via Orange money and that the accused acknowledged it.
The witness also told the court that they suspect it to be a fraud after the accused later called one of the witness's friends directly telling them that he want more people.
PW1 said they then enquire about the accused from one of the lecturers at Henry Street if they knew him to be a PHD holder and a lecturer at the University, but that the lecturer denied knowing him.
Since then he said the accused’s phones were unreachable and that the witness’ colleagues started harassing him for their money to be refunded.
The case was adjourned to the 14th of June for the witness to complete his testimony.
The accused is before the court for six counts of impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (07/06/23)
