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Another high-level certificate scandal, which could send Governor-Elect Ibikunle Amosun to jail, is brewing in Ogun State.
Several petitioners from Ogun state have questioned various claims made by the Governor-Elect in his profile filed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and called for a full and urgent investigation and possible criminal prosecution.
The Senator had claimed in his election documents presented to INEC the possession of a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in International Finance from the University of Westminster, United Kingdom, but investigations at the university have shown that the institution offers only a Master of Science (MSC) International Finance, not an M.A.
Also enquiries at the Evaluation and Accreditation Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja through a letter on May 3, informing them of its suspicion of the authenticity of the certificate presented to INEC by Senator Amosun on his M.A. in International Finance from the University of Westminster in 2000.
Replying, on May 13, 2011, in a letter signed by A.O Adigwe on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, CEJUDE said the Ministry confirmed that the University of Westminster offers only the “M.Sc (Master of Science) in International Finance, but had added, “There must have been a gross error in the issue of M.A (Master of Arts) International Finance to Mr. Ibikunle Oyelaja Amosun”.
“Accordingly, it is either the Federal Ministry of Education is pumping out a tissue of lies or that Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Governor-Elect, Ogun State has put forth to the electorate what he does not have and deserves to be diligently investigated and prosecuted for forgery and perjury, before May 29th, 2011, when he would have put forth the toga of immunity has provided by the Constitution of our land,” a source told SaharaReporters
It was pointed out, however, that the Federal Ministry of Education has now asked Senator Amosun to provide the student transcript, his entry permit to the United Kingdom and his admission papers in hard copy for proper assessment.
Other claims questioned in Amosun’s avalanche of claims include:
· Earlier study by the Governor-Elect.
· His date of birth, of which there seem to be two, and
· His National Youth Service Corps participation.
On his technical study claim, the petitioners said it had been found that the Governor-Elect even gained admission to Ogun State Polytechnic on the basis of a fake GCE result.
He also claimed to be at the school between 1979-1983 for both the OND and HND. This claim appears false in that between OND and HND there is year mandatory internship student must serve. That shows he did not serve the mandatory one year and if does, his year of graduation should be 1994. In his CV he claimed to have done is internship at Ogun/Osun River Basin Authority in 1982 (6 months) and at Nigerian Television Authority-NTA in 1981 (6 months). From this claim, what Amosun is saying he was in school simultaneously while doing his internship?”
Petitioners on account of its discoveries it had decided to present the documents gathered so far to the office of the Inspector general of Police “for proper investigation and prosecution if possible, in the event that the Governor-Elect of Ogun-State is found wanting in his presentation of information and certificates to the INEC for the 2011, Governorship Elections in Ogun State, Nigeria.”
Only a few days ago, in Anambra State, the academic credentials of Senator-Elect Andy Uba were similarly questioned. In a public petition, Mr. Ikechukwu Obiorah, who contested the election for the Anambra South Senatorial District with Mr. Uba, alleged that the former presidential aide to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was declared elected in the April 9 race, had tendered questionable documents to back his application to INEC to run for the seat.
Similarly, just yesterday, the Attorney General of the Federation brought forgery and perjury charges against Mr. Alphonsus Igbeke, who ran for the Senate in the Anambra North Senatorial District, and allegedly forged documents to ensure victory. Mr. Igbeke, who is in hiding, is expected to be declared wanted.
Last week, the Peoples Democratic Party filed a petition at the Oyo State governorship election tribunal in Ibadan challenging the governorship victory of Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the Action Congress of Nigeria on the grounds that he also holds the citizenship of the United States of America, in contravention of Section 182 (1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
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