Benin-based professor re-arraigned for issuing fake diplomas and forging documents

• Professor Godwin Igbinoba faces caller arraignment by ICPC for allegedly operating amerciable degree-awarding schemes and forging an NYSC exemption certificate
• The accused pleaded not blameworthy to charges of fraud and forgery, with the lawsuit adjourned to May 19 aft maintaining his earlier bail conditions
• The proceedings highlights Nigeria’s ongoing conflict against diploma mills, pursuing caller vulnerability of thousands with fake degrees from overseas institutions

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned Professor Godwin Igbinoba astatine the Edo State High Court connected charges relating to fraudulent world certifications and papers forgery.

The commission, successful a connection published via its authoritative X (formerly Twitter) relationship connected Thursday, confirmed that Mr Igbinoba was brought earlier Justice A. N. Erhabor successful Benin City, wherever helium pleaded not blameworthy to the three-count complaint leveled against him.

The nether occurrence world has denied immoderate wrongdoing successful court. Image: FB/ICPC
Source: Facebook

According to the ICPC, the world was progressive successful the illicit conferment of unapproved degrees and diplomas done 2 unrecognized bodies — the Association of Professional Examination Board and the Association of Corporation of Chartered Secretaries, some operating retired of Benin City.

These bodies allegedly functioned without authorization from nationalist regulatory bodies, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Embattled prof allegedly forged NYSC certs

Investigators besides alleged that Igbinoba forged a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate, dated March 12, 2018, which was purportedly presented to 1 Osian Jude Tony.

This act, the committee stated, constitutes a usurpation nether conception 465 of the Criminal Code Act.

Earlier this year, thousands of fake degrees were uncovered aft an investigative writer communicative exposed shady acts of overseas institutions. Image: FB/ABAT
Source: Facebook

The complaint expanse further accuses the prof of deceiving unsuspecting students by promoting the aforementioned associations arsenic accredited institutions, thereby collecting fees from individuals nether mendacious pretenses.

These actions, the ICPC claims, breach conception 419 of the Criminal Code Act.

Professor denies immoderate wrongdoing successful court

Initially arraigned earlier Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, the substance was reassigned to Justice Erhabor, necessitating a caller plea from the defendant. Mr Igbinoba erstwhile again denied each allegations.

At the resumed hearing, the defence team, led by P. E. Chukwu, requested the tribunal to clasp the bail conditions antecedently granted. Justice Erhabor agreed, allowing the suspect to proceed connected the existing bail terms. Representing the ICPC was D. N. Okoro from its Edo State ineligible office.

The lawsuit was adjourned to May 19 for further proceedings.

The incidental draws renewed attraction to the troubling prevalence of grade racketeering successful Nigeria. The improvement has led to a question of unqualified individuals claiming world credentials from discredited overseas and home institutions.

In 2024, the Nigerian authorities identified implicit 22,500 suspected holders of fake degrees, galore of which were traced to diploma mills successful Benin Republic and Togo.

Former Education Minister Tahir Mamman disclosed that much than 1,100 individuals were recovered to possess fraudulent degrees from Togo alone.

The national authorities subsequently established an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee successful March 2023 to analyse the operations of these certificate syndicates.

Tinubu's gov't issues caller directive to universities

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Federal Government had directed each higher institutions crossed the state to "submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education.

The submission, according to the national government, indispensable beryllium done wrong 3 months aft matriculation ceremonies.

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Source: Legit.ng