The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has re-arraigned a university professor, Godwin Igbinoba, on multiple charges bordering on illegal award of academic degrees and forgery.
Professor Igbinoba was brought before Justice A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court in Benin City on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.
According to the ICPC, the defendant was involved in a fraudulent scheme that conferred unauthorised academic qualifications on unsuspecting members of the public through two unaccredited entities— the Association of Professional Examination Board and the Association of Corporation of Chartered Secretaries, both based in Benin City.
The agency alleged that the institutions issued degrees such as Bachelor of Science and National Diplomas without approval from Nigeria’s key regulatory bodies, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In addition to the degree racketeering allegations, the commission also charged Mr Igbinoba with forging a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate dated March 12, 2018, which he allegedly presented to one Osian Jude Tony. The act contravenes Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act.
Another charge relates to obtaining money under false pretence by deceiving members of the public into enrolling in the unaccredited programmes, and collecting tuition fees through bank accounts linked to the fictitious institutions—an offence contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Act.
The professor was first arraigned before a previous judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, but the trial had to commence afresh after the case was reassigned to Justice Erhabor.
Led by defence counsel P.E. Chukwu, the accused requested that the bail conditions earlier granted by the former judge be retained. Justice Erhabor granted the request and adjourned the case to 19 May 2025 for further hearing.
Ongoing Crisis of Fake Degrees
The case against Igbinoba underscores growing concerns about the prevalence of degree mills and fake academic credentials in Nigeria. In 2024, the Federal Ministry of Education reported that over 22,000 Nigerians were found to possess fake degrees obtained from foreign institutions, particularly in neighbouring West African countries.
The government has since inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Fake Degree Certificate Milling to crack down on certificate racketeering, both within and outside the country.
ICPC’s latest action against Professor Igbinoba is part of a broader effort to curb academic fraud and restore credibility to Nigeria’s education system.
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