“‘There has been no “cover up,” and there will be no “cover up.”’
Lagos University denies shielding certificate racketeers and promises to wrap up the investigation into degree sales by the end of 2023 & publish the outcomes.
The management of Lagos State University has denied shielding the workers of the university said to be involved in certificate racketeering.
An information gotten from SaharaReporters
The SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how a degree could be bought for between N2 million and N3 million from some workers in the university.
The newspaper also reported that in 2020-2021, a sting operation spearheaded by the school management at the time and the Department of State Services (DSS) exposed certificate racketeering in the school and succeeded in getting confessions from some members of the syndicate. Sadly, sources said it all ended with the administration of Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun as Vice-Chancellor.
His successor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has shown no interest whatsoever in weeding out the bad eggs in the school system, a security source privy to the investigation had inform the newsmen.
Sources in the DSS also confirmed that the sting operation, which was highly detailed and included the use of body cameras and other gadgets, started in 2020 had culminated in the arrest and grilling of a few members of staff.
The newsmen learnt that some of the members of the degree-awarding syndicate had since been promoted and in a few cases risen to become professors in the school.
Reacting to this, the university through its Coordinator, Centre for Information and Public Relations, Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, described the allegation of cover-up of the certificate racketeering as untrue.
The statement added that there was an ongoing investigation into the matter which would be concluded by the end of 2023. It said the university would publish the outcome of the investigation.
The statement reads: “The attention of Lagos State University Management has been drawn to recent reports regarding alleged ‘Certificate Racketeering’ and a ‘sting operation’ in the University.
“We hereby establish that the Management of Lagos State University had promptly brought the original allegations to the attention of general law enforcement authorities including the office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. These authorities have not yet concluded their investigations.
“Lagos State University Management does not take such matters lightly. Its own inquiries into the allegations will be concluded before the end of 2023. Consistently with applicable law, the outcome of the inquiry will be published and appropriate action will be taken.
“For emphasis, there has been no “cover up” and there will be no ‘cover up.”
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