The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Paul Moses Ogidi, via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Zakka Christopher did not have a certificate.

Ogidi made the claim while responding to a post from an X user on “Why Academic Pedigree Matters for AMAC.” The post featured a photo of the incumbent Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Zakka Christopher. Responding to it, Ogidi wrote: “So this man no even get certificate.” incumbent Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Zakka Christopher. Responding to it, Ogidi wrote: “So this man no even get certificate.”

Claim: APC candidate and incumbent AMAC Chairman Zakka Christopher has no certificate.

Verification

CDD War Room found that Zakka has an already pending case on his First School Leaving Certificate, which borders on Forgery.  According to our findings, the forgery allegations stem from a direct criminal complaint filed by Mr. Awalu Mohammed, a resident of AMAC, who alleged that Zakka submitted inconsistent and possibly forged First School Leaving Certificates to INEC.

Legal history

After Zakka won the AMAC chairmanship election in February 2022 on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform with 19,302 votes, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Murtala Usman Karshi (who polled 13,249 votes), filed a petition at the FCT Area Council Election Tribunal raising a certificate forgery allegation. 

On October 2, 2022, a three-man tribunal, chaired by Hon. Justice S. B. Belgore, with members Hon. Justice Yusuf Halilu and Hon. Justice Jude O. Onwuegbuzie, dismissed the allegation after analysing police investigative reports and other evidence, and confirmed Zakka as the winner (Suit No: FCT/ACEAT/AP/01/2022).

Following a police investigation, the case file was forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN. In a letter dated August 20, 2024, addressed to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, the AGF directed that case FCT/X/D15B/188/2022 (APC vs. Christopher Zaka) be terminated, citing the tribunal’s prior ruling and concluding that “no useful purpose will be served pursuing the same course.” Zakka’s defence team also noted that the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federal Ministry of Justice had separately cleared Zakka of the forgery allegation.

Despite the AGF’s termination directive, the case was revived on March 24, 2025, when Awalu Tanko Mohammed filed a fresh Direct Criminal Complaint (the same allegation) at a Magistrate Court in Dutse Alhaji (Suit No: AB/CR/DUT/324/2025). The presiding Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ahmed Ilelah directed the police to investigate and report back within two weeks. In response, the FCT Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in a letter dated March 27, 2025, confirmed it had already investigated the matter and forwarded its report to the DPP for prosecution.

Zakka’s lawyers filed a preliminary objection, arguing the fresh case constitutes an abuse of court process given the AGF’s termination and the tribunal’s earlier dismissal. They cited Sections 36(9), 174, and 211 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

On May 23, 2025, at the resumed hearing, Zakka’s defence team informed the court that the matter had been brought before Justice Aliyu Yinusa Shaffa of the FCT High Court in Gwagwalada for judicial review. Chief Magistrate Ilelah adjourned proceedings sine die (indefinitely) pending the outcome of that review. Complainant’s counsel, Israel Joseph Peter, expressed concern about what he described as deliberate attempts to delay proceedings.

Verdict: Misleading

CDD War Room found Ogidi’s claim to be misleading. What exists is a pending legal dispute over the consistency of Zakka’s First School Leaving Certificate, not the absence of one.
The allegation has been raised since 2022, dismissed by an election tribunal, and terminated by the AGF. While a fresh criminal complaint has revived the matter, proceedings are currently on indefinite hold pending an FCT High Court judicial review. No court has established that Zakka’s certificate is forged or that he is unqualified to hold office.