Poly Rector Secures Employment With Fake Ph.D Certificate

One Olaolu Akinola Olugbenga said to be ex – Rector of Igbajo Polytechnic in Osun State has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the State High Court 2, for forging a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) certificate in order to secure employment as rector.

He was arraigned before Honorable Justice Wasiu Oladejo Akanbi on a 4-count charge bordering on alleged forgery and making false statement.

According to a statement issued and posted on the Facebook of the ICPC, Olugbenga was accused of procuring a forged Ph.D Certificate from the University of Ibadan which he used to gain employment into Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo.

“ICPC’s findings revealed that sometime in February 2003, the accused person presented to Igbajo Polytechnic a forged notification of result that showed the conferment of a Doctorate degree on him by the University of Ibadan,” the statement read briefly.

“His action was contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the same Act. It was also contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 467 of the same Act.”

Part of the charge sheet read in court stated that during investigation by ICPC, the accused person knowingly made false statement that his Doctor of Philosophy Degree programme was completed in 2002 and he was given notification in 2003, thereby committing an offence that is contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the same Act.

The ex-Rector was also alleged to have presented a forged notification of result to the management of Igbajo Polytechnic with intent to pass it off as genuine, which was an offence of forgery, contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 467 of the same Act.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him and by way of oral application, his lawyer pleaded with the court to grant him bail.

He was obliged by Justice Akanbi in line with the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted the accused by ICPC, with the additional condition that his sureties must be civil servants of Grade Level 14 or above, working within the jurisdiction of the court. The judge added that the sureties should produce N5 million each and must be present in court for the next adjourned date of 26th March, 2020.