Highlight

I paid N600,000 to obtain degree certificate in six weeks from Contonou varsity, undercover journalist, Umar Audu, reveals

According to him, he reached out to the racketeering agents who work hand-in-hand with the top management of the university campus in Cotonou, whose registrar and English section coordinator are Nigerians.

2.7k
A report by a Nigerian journalist dominated headlines recently after he bagged a Cotonou University degree in six weeks and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme for the second time.
Persecondnews gathered that the journalist, Umar Audu, who reports for the Daily Nigerian Newspaper, went undercover and reached out to a racketeering syndicate that specializes in selling degree certificates from neighbouring countries such as the Benin Republic, Togo, and some parts of Cameroon at exorbitant prices to willing applicants.
In an interview monitored by Persecondnews on AIT Kakaaki on Tuesday, Audu revealed that he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication certificate from the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, Benin Republic, without going to Contonou, let alone the school.
According to him, he reached out to the racketeering agents who work hand-in-hand with the top management of the university campus in Cotonou, whose registrar and English section coordinator are Nigerians.
“This thing is not new; it has been going on in Benin Republic, Togo, and some parts of Cameroon for a long time.
“I didn’t go to the school; I was in Abuja. I was given contacts for agents. I called one of the contacts and told him what I needed. He said that is not a problem and that they have been doing it for people. I wasn’t given an admission letter. I just made an initial payment of N380,000 and other small payments, which amounted to N600,000 for everything.
“The funny thing is that a university is accredited by both the governments of Benin Republic and Nigeria, and they offer over 300 courses.
“The agent asked me if I wanted to study for a year or a month. I went for the one-month option.
“I made the payment on December 27, 2022, and I was issued a payment receipt. The certificate and transcript of the school were delivered to my office on February 17, 2023.
“The transcript indicated I commenced studying at the institution in 2018 and graduated on September 5, 2022. There was an error on the certificate; they wrote female on the certificate instead of male, so I reached out to the agent and pointed it out to him. He said I should return it so they could issue another one to me. I did as he instructed, and I was issued another certificate in March,” he narrated.
Speaking on how he was able to be mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme for the second time, which he thought was impossible, he said he made an additional payment of N60,000 to the agent to get an evaluation letter from the Federal Ministry of Education for him.
Persecondnews reports that the evaluation letter is a mandatory requirement for Nigerian students’ NYSC mobilization.
“Part of the agreement with the agent was that he would get the evaluation letter from the Federal Ministry of Education for me. After I got my result, he said he couldn’t get my evaluation letter because of some policies from the ministry. But I said this wasn’t part of the agreement, and he assured me he would get it for me and that I should exercise patience.
“So, on May 23, he called me and sent my evaluation letter to me. Before then, while I was pressurizing him, he said I would have to make some money, which I did. I paid a total of N60,000 to get the letter,” he added.
However, Audu, after a tedious mobilization process, was eventually cleared for both physical and online evaluations and, on November 22, posted to Cross River for a one-year NYSC scheme.

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Equatorial Guinea government official embroiled in sextape scandal

Mr. Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF)...

CAF ruling against Libya: Nigerian govt. promises to protect its citizens in Libya

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to...

Polaris Bank wins “Best Mobile App” award at Digital Jurist Awards 2024

For its commitment to digital innovation and excellence, Polaris Bank has again...

Updated: After six years of injustice, Nigeria’s ex-Chief Justice, Onnoghen, finally gets justice

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, overturned the conviction of...

Flood sacks 4 Anambra council areas as Soludo activates 27 IDP camps

By Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka Floods have devastated four local government areas in...

Four-month salary: NASU, SSANU secure irrevocable commitment from FG, suspend strike

After a six-day strike, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching staff...

Three radio stations in Abia destroyed by mysterious fire

A mysterious fire has hit three radio stations in Abia in Abia...

Seven new ministers for inauguration on Monday, Nov. 4

President Bola Tinubu will preside over the oath-taking of seven new ministers...

Youth shot dead for playing football near VIP’s house

A 70-year-old man, Mr. Stephen Irobunda, has escaped a mob action in...

Renowned Nigerian filmmaker, director Dimeji Ajibola is dead

Dimeji Ajibola, the acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker behind the popular series Shanty Town,...

Just in: UK Conservative Party elects former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch as new leader

Former British Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has emerged as the new leader...

Demolition of Abuja N200bln properties: Restrain Wike, Estate Developers Beg Pres. Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to intervene in the alleged demolition...

FirstBank’s retired CEO, Adeduntan, gets presidential commendation

Impressed with his exemplary career trajectory and transformative leadership, President Bola Tinubu...

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

NAGAFF Taps NPA MD, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as Keynote Speaker for Silver Jubilee Anniversary

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has announced Dr....

It’s fake news: Fubara did not order shut down of NNPC Ltd, oil companies in Rivers

The Rivers State Government has refuted a report circulating on social media,...

Tinubu to NEC: Allow tax reform bills pass through legislative process, public hearing

President Bola Tinubu has received the National Economic Council’s recommendation that the...

Minister Inspects Bagaja Renewables’ Zawaciki 1MWp Mini-Grid Amid Northern Power Crisis

As northern Nigeria grapples with prolonged power outages, Minister of Power Adelabu...

Just in: Court grants VeryDarkMan N2m bail

Reprieve has come for the detained social media critic, Martins Otse, popularly...

Just in: #EndBadGovernance protest: Teenager collapses in court, forces judge to suspend proceeding

A teenager, one of the 76 people charged before a Federal High...