The elevation of Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court to he Court of Appeal has stalled the trial of the forgery case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) against two officials of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Oniyangi had slated hearing for last month before his promotion to the Appeal Court, making it impossible for him to hear the matter.
Chinwe Beatrice Molokwu of the legal unit of UBEC and Jasper Erekosima are standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, issuing false document, forgery of statement of account and the use of false stamp.
The prosecutor, Mr. Michael Adesola, had earlier told the court sitting before Justice Oniyangi that in June 2013 that the accused persons conspired and produced a fake UBEC document and presented same as genuine to the embassy of Belgium, with the intention to procure visa.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges slammed against them by the anti-graft agency.
The court had granted the oral application by the counsel to the accused persons, Mr Oyikachi Ikpeazu, to allow his clients continue with the administrative bail granted them by the ICPC.
