The controversy surrounding the alleged forgery of a West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Rita Odichinma Orji, has resurfaced following concerns raised by the petitioner, Mr. Uche David Esomonu, over the pace of investigations.
Hon. Orji, who represented Ajeromi–Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State between 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was petitioned in 2023 over claims that she presented a forged WAEC certificate during her tenure. In January 2024, a High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, dismissed her suit seeking to restrain the Nigeria Police from investigating the allegations.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kawu Bello ruled that Hon. Orji has a case to answer and affirmed that the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to investigate petitions brought before it, in line with Section 200 of the Constitution. The court directed her to make herself available for questioning by investigators.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Esomonu expressed frustration that despite the court’s clear pronouncements, little progress has been reported. He urged the police to act with consistency and transparency in handling the case.
“I wonder why this case has been swept aside despite the evidence presented. The Nigerian Police must restore their dignity by reopening the case file and pursuing it to its logical conclusion. I will not relent until justice is served,”
Esomonu said.
The petitioner noted that while other cases involving certificate forgery and impersonation had received swift attention—such as the case of one Engineer Chukwubuike Azubuike, accused of parading himself as the “Obi of Lagos” in an alleged ₦1.5 billion fraud—Orji’s matter has remained stagnant.
Court records also indicate that Hon. Orji initially resisted police invitations for interrogation and instead filed a suit to halt the investigation, citing her fundamental rights. However, the court dismissed the suit and directed her to cooperate with law enforcement.
Although some reports claimed she was arrested by the police in November 2024 and released on bail after making a statement, this aspect has not been publicly confirmed by official police statements.
With public interest in the case still high, particularly within Ajeromi–Ifelodun where Hon. Orji previously held strong political influence, stakeholders are closely watching whether the police will revive the investigation or allow it to fade into obscurity.
