Top national lawmaker battles forgery allegation

Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has reaffirmed his claim that his signature was forged and unlawfully used to endorse Ikenga Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader in the House.

Agbese made the clarification in a statement titled *“Unintended and Unauthorised Use of My Signature – A Clear Case of Forgery,”* issued on Friday following a presentation he made on the floor of the House under Order 6 Rule 2 on June 4, 2026.

The lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State said he deemed it necessary to address what he described as efforts by some individuals to justify the use of his signature for a purpose he never approved.

According to him, while he had signed a document alongside Ugochinyere for a specific purpose, his signature was later used without his consent to support the latter’s purported bid for the Minority Leader position.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I signed a document with Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere for a specific purpose. However, my signature was later used for an entirely different and unauthorised purpose — the purported endorsement of Hon. Ugochinyere as Minority Leader of the House. I did not, at any point, endorse him for that position,” Agbese stated.

He argued that the use of his signature beyond the original agreement constituted forgery and vowed not to allow his endorsement to be attached to actions he considered improper.

Agbese further alleged that there was a deliberate effort by certain individuals to obtain his signature and questioned Ugochinyere’s credibility, citing what he described as a controversial past.

The deputy spokesperson also referred to allegations that Ugochinyere had boasted of possessing information capable of blackmailing members of the House leadership. He further cited reports alleging that some lawmakers were induced to sign documents connected to the matter, although he did not provide evidence to support the claims.

He maintained that Ugochinyere, and not himself, was the subject of the ongoing proceedings relating to the controversy.

Despite his strong position, Agbese said he remained willing to appear before any relevant committee of the House to provide a full account of events and assist in an impartial investigation.

“I remain open and willing to appear before any relevant Committee of the House for a full, transparent, and impartial review of all the facts surrounding this issue,” he said.

The lawmaker urged all parties involved to allow the House’s internal mechanisms and due process to address the matter, stressing the need to preserve truth, integrity, and unity within the Minority Caucus.