Reps to probe government officials linked with certificate racketeering

The house of representatives has resolved to probe alleged collusion between some officials of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), and Nigerian students, over certificate racketeering.

NAN reports that a motion by Abubakar Fulata, member representing Birniwa/Guri/Kiri-Kasamma constituency of Jigawa, was adopted.

Fulata, while presenting the motion during plenary on Wednesday, cited the Benin Republic racketeering syndicate that involved Nigerians.

A report had exposed a certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic that sells university degrees to willing buyers in Nigeria.

During the investigation, an undercover reporter bagged a four-year university degree from Cotonou in six weeks.

The certificate and transcript bore the authentic scan code of Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT), an institution fully accredited by the governments of Benin Republic and Nigeria.

The reporter used the fake certificate to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme without detection.

The investigation unravelled that racketeering agents in Nigeria are in cahoots with top management of the university campus in Cotonou.

During the furore, stakeholders demanded a probe of Nigeria’s education ministry over a clearance issued to ESGT.

Fulata said Nigeria has long been plagued by certificate racketeering scandals.

He said the education ministry is in charge of authenticating foreign degree certificates.

Adopting the motion, reps condemned the certificate racketeering menace.

The house mandated its committee on university education to investigate the matter and identify the agents involved.

It also mandated the committee to identify the government officials involved and all students that have benefitted from the affected institutions.