The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Rep. Philip Agbese, has called for a transparent investigation into the alleged forgery of his signature on a document endorsing Rep. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere for minority leader.
The Labour Party lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Benue, made the demand in a statement on Friday.
On Wednesday, some opposition lawmakers nominated Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo, to succeed Rep. Kingsley Chinda as minority leader. Chinda vacated the position after emerging as the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for Rivers State.
During Thursday’s plenary, Agbese denied endorsing Ugochinyere. He alleged that his signature was forged on the nomination document.
Ugochinyere, chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream, dismissed the claim as “an outrageous lie” and released CCTV footage allegedly showing Agbese signing the document in his office.
‘UNAUTHORISED USE OF SIGNATURE’
In the Friday statement, Agbese said he signed a document with Ugochinyere for a specific purpose, but his signature was later used for an unauthorised purpose: the purported endorsement for minority leader.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I did not, at any point, endorse him for that position,” he said. “The use of my signature for purposes other than what was expressly agreed upon constitutes forgery.”
Agbese added that reports indicated Ugochinyere allegedly bribed members to sign the document, citing “visible desperation exhibited by certain individuals in their attempt to obtain my signature by all means possible.”
He said he remained willing to appear before any relevant House committee for a full, transparent, and impartial review of the facts.
Agbese urged Nigerians to allow due process and the internal mechanisms of the House to take their course “in the interest of truth, integrity, and the unity of the minority caucus.”
