... as ICPC, JAMB probe varsity
About ten lecturers of the Imo State University, IMSU, Owerri have been arrested by the police over allegation boarding on facilitating and issuing of fake admission to over 230 prospective students in the past few years.
Some of the arrested staff are working the office of the institution’s VC, Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze, while some are in the offices of the Registrar, Dr. Julius Osuagwu, and the Director of Admissions, Ndubuisi Ubaku, among other offices in the institution.
Recall that recently, the university has been under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board over an allegation of admission racketeering involving some staff members of the institution.
Advertisement:
Society Mirror gathered that JAMB officials, after observing that its admission portal had been compromised, traced no fewer than 230 fake admission letters to IMSU.
In a bid to get the matter investigated, the JAMB officials were said to have alerted officials of the ICPC to the fake admissions traced to the university and the commission, during the investigation, invited staff members linked to the fraudulent act for questioning.
Speaking, the spokesperson for JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that close to 10 employees of the institution were arrested, adding that during a joint operation involving JAMB and ICPC officials, the 230 students whose names were on the fake admission letters traced to the school were also interrogated.
Advertisement:
The spokesperson for the ICPC, Demola Bakare, when contacted, said the commission had gathered credible evidence to prosecute those linked to the admission racketeering at IMSU, adding that the case would be charged to court soon.
Bakare said, “It is true; the ICPC is undertaking some investigations at IMSU. The focus (of the investigation) is on admission racketeering, as reported by JAMB.
“The JAMB admission portal CAPS was compromised and 230 fake admission letters were traced to IMSU. Four individuals, including one Dr. Simon, were detained for two days only at a facility in Owerri, Imo State, but they now report every Tuesday at the ICPC office in the state.
“Though further investigation is ongoing, there is enough evidence to sustain prosecution. The IMSU registrar and the admission officer were interviewed in Abuja but never detained. The investigation is continuing. The matter will soon be in court.”
The spokesperson for IMSU, Ralph Njokuobi, in his reactions to the allegations levelled against all the staff members mentioned in this report, said the case was still under investigation.
Njokuobi said, “Some of them (the staff members mentioned) were invited to come and explain. It is an allegation until it is substantiated. The investigation is ongoing and I don’t need to comment, even though the case hasn’t gone to court.
“The law says you are innocent until proved guilty. It is an allegation and if it is substantiated, they will face the music. There is no doubt about that. But they (accused officials) have continued to go to the ICPC for interrogation.”
Advertisements:
