News Update :BREAKING: Court Remands Ex-Federal Research Institute Director-General, Igwe Over Certificate Fraud
An Ikeja Special Offences Court has remanded a former Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Chima Igwe over alleged certificate forgery.
Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Lagos Court gave the order that Igwe should be incarcerated on Friday.
SaharaReporters had reported in June that a group petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that Igwe had used a fake doctoral certificate to work with the institute for 18 years.
He was accused of serial manipulation of his educational status to exploit the system for personal gains.
The former FIIRO acting Director was caught in a web of dirty scams after submitting a Doctor of Philosophy certificate that was later discovered to be fake.
The ICPC investigation indicted him but many Nigerians were shocked to note that Igwe remained a key staff member of the institute.
In a petition dated June 7, 2021, and addressed to the ICPC, Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), said Igwe must return to the government’s purse all earnings linked to the forged certificate.
The petition titled, “Prosecution of Mr. Chima Igwe for attaining the position of Acting Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research without possessing the Pre-Requisite Qualification,” was signed by HEDA's Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju.
HEDA recalled that the degree was subsequently investigated by ICPC and the findings of the investigation dated January 24, 2020, with reference number ICPC/SDD-TA/FMST-02/2020 was sent to the Minister of Science and Technology, the supervising ministry.
SaharaReporters on September 28 reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the ICPC to commence the prosecution of Igwe for manipulating his educational status to exploit the system for personal gains.
The President in a letter to the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said Igwe is not qualified for the position of Director General and should not be considered as the substantive head of the agency.
The letter, signed by Ibrahim Dikko Adamu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operation, also urged Onu to stop interfering in the running of FIIRO and allow the board to do its job.
Breaking News News AddThis : Original Author : saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements :
