The Federal Government yesterday confirmed that the probe of the 3,000 alleged ‘fake’ graduates recently uncovered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was ongoing.
Minister of State for Education Tanko Sununu, who made this known to The Nation yesterday, vowed that those indicted would be prosecuted for forgery.
Tanko, who also explained that the report of a panel that investigated allegations of degree racketeering in foreign and private varsities was ready, said the ‘fake’’ graduates were part-timers who illegally found their way into regular programmes.
He said: “Investigation is ongoing and those identified will be prosecuted accordingly.”
“The 3,000 are part-time candidates that forged their admission to be regular (students) just for them to participate in the national service (organised by the National Youth Service Corps).
“The basis of it (their alleged crime) is a forgery and it is a punishable offense. The ministry will ensure that all due processes are followed to prosecute all those that are involved.’’
The minister added that the recommendations of a seven-member panel on degree racketeering in foreign and private varsities would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) soon.
He said: “The report of the committee has been submitted and there is a lot of recommendations that require the approval of the Federal Executive Council. Very soon, the report will be presented to the FEC for a decision.
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“Most of these degrees are obtained from tertiary institutions in the Benin Republic and Togo which are not recognised by the law of the land.
‘’Since this has been identified, many recommendations have been made which will be forwarded to the FEC and as soon as the FEC decides on the report, it will be implemented immediately.
“I assure you that something will be done because the only way we can secure our education is to ensure that people genuinely obtain their certificates in recognised institutions; whether locally or internationally. Otherwise, it will portend serious danger to Nigeria.
“Those who obtain certificates through the back door lack skills and appropriate knowledge and can not add any value to the economic development of any nation. We cannot allow it. It can be a source of damage to any nation.”
JAMB Registrar Is-haq Oloyede also confirmed that the board was still investigating some of the ‘fake’ graduates.
“Some of them are being investigated. Any elaborate discussion by me on this will compromise what we are doing,” he said.
Oloyede had at a meeting with a delegation of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) said those involved in the act never set feet on the four walls of a classroom.
The registrar condemned illegal admissions by some tertiary institutions in the country, saying it remains a source of embarrassment.