ICPC probes alleged six weeks degree scheme by Cotonou varsity, quizzes undercover reporter

Huriwa asks govt to fish out top govt officials involved
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced investigation into the alleged six weeks degree scheme in Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The Commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, said the move began when ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, convened a critical meeting on Tuesday at the agency headquarters in Abuja with an undercover reporter to verify details.

Ogugua said they discussed the medium’s December 30 report on alleged corrupt practices in degree issuance at a Cotonou university, with the aim of investigating and initiating relevant actions.

She said the investigation into ESGT in Cotonou revealed a concerning situation, where degrees are allegedly awarded in 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.”

MEANWHILE, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, called on Federal Government to widen the scope of its investigation towards identifying top government officials in the education sector that compromised standards and permitted infiltration of persons with substandard qualification into the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, described as panicky, kangaroo and fire brigade measures, the steps taken so far by the National University Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education in banning some universities in West African countries from being recognised in Nigeria.

The rights group stated that the first action they should take is to collectively address Nigerians and apologise for letting down quality control in such a way that holders of fake, irregular and substandard university degrees infiltrate the NYSC scheme in Nigeria.

HURIWA stressed that the measures adopted so far by relevant Federal Government agencies and ministries were not far-reaching, alleging that they have been chasing shadows and tackling the symptoms instead of the substance of the affliction.

The group insisted that exposing, naming, and shaming top officials of relevant federal agencies involved is the most credible starting point because, it argued that the certificate syndicates would not have succeeded without internal conspiracy from relevant ministries including the Ministry of Education.