NUC, ICPC seal off illegal varsities

A sting operation team comprising operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC) began the sealing off of the uncovered illegal universities in the country.

The team, operating on the orders of the Federal High Court, Abuja, also arrested the chairman of one of the institutions.

It also arrested the registrar and proprietor of Lobi Institute of Management and Technology in Makurdi, Benue State, for allegedly awarding fake degree certificate.

The team gathered that the school was affiliated to a foreign university, ‘Irish University Business School, London and awarding fake certificates.
The proprietor of the institution, Dr Peter Ahemba and Chihi Joseph, the registrar were quizzed by the team with relevant materials retrieved from them to help in their investigation.

Among the institutions locked on Wednesday were UNICAREBBAN Business School at Ikorodu and the New Horizon Computer Learning Centre, Ikeja, all in Lagos.

In Benin City, Edo State, the team sealed off the Metropolitan Institute of Technology.

Head of the NUC/ICPC team, Mamudu Abdulai, sealed off the institution, stating that the school was awarding national diploma and degree without approval.

The team arrested the Director of Studies of the institution, Mr Patricia Okoh, along with four other senior members of staff  and seized some items such as computer gadgets and students’ file.

Assistant Director, ICPC, Mr Demola Bakare, said the step was taken based on complaints from the public on the deplorable state of Nigeria’s education system.

The development, he said, prompted “a system study, from which over 67 unapproved institutions offering unaccredited courses were discovered, with 12 of them in Lagos.”

Also speaking with newsmen, deputy director, Education Department of the commission, Mr Muhammed  Ashiru Baba, said the commission was working in line with the section 6 of the ICPC Act.

He lamented the rising rate of fake universities in the country, stating that four of such illegal universities were in Benue axis.