The chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Musa Aliyu, SAN, has met with the DAILY NIGERIAN reporter, Umar Audu, who exposed bogus degrees awarded by mooshroom universities in Benin and Togo.
In a report published on December 30, 2023, DAILY NIGERIAN exposed how corrupt government officials aided the fraudulent business of certificate racketeering.
The report exposed how our reporter Umar Audu “finished” the four-year degree programme in less than two months from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, ESGT, Cotonou, Benin Republic.
He obtained the certificate without application, registration, studying or writing exams.
Although the reporter never crossed any Nigerian borders, an immigration officer was able to get his passport stamped by both Nigerian and Beninois immigration agents to enable him participate in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
While meeting DAILY NIGERIAN reporter, the ICPC sought some details from the reporter to enable the anti-graft agency in investigating the academic fraud.
“To verify details and move beyond speculation, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, convened a critical meeting today at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja with a reporter from a news outlet,” a statement by ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, said.
“They discussed the outlet’s December 30th report on alleged corrupt practices in rapid degree issuance at a Cotonou university, aiming to deepen the investigation and initiate relevant actions.
“The investigation into Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou reveals a concerning situation where degrees are allegedly awarded in as little as six weeks, bypassing standard academic procedures like application, registration, coursework, and examinations.
“In response to these critical allegations, the ICPC is embarking on a thorough investigation. This probe will rigorously examine the networks and individuals engaged in these malpractices, with the objective of restoring and preserving the integrity of our educational system.
“Furthermore, the Commission will engage in a synergistic collaboration with relevant domestic and international bodies to jointly evaluate the legitimacy of academic qualifications procured from overseas institutions, especially those highlighted in the investigative report.
“The ICPC calls upon all stakeholders in the educational and governmental sectors to join hands in this critical endeavor. Together, we can work towards a future where the credibility of our educational qualifications is unimpeachable, and where corruption finds no refuge.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Federal Ministry of Education in a statement signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru suspended evaluation of degrees from Benin and Togo.
