How I paid N600,000 to get degree certificate from university in Benin Republic – Investigative Journalist
In a shocking revelation, Nigerian investigative journalist Umar Audu has exposed a certificate scandal, disclosing that he spent approximately N600,000 to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from an institution in Benin Republic within a mere two months.
Audu, affiliated with a Nigerian newspaper, shared details of the fraudulent scheme during an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday.
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Audu, who uncovered a fake certificate mill at Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, expressed disbelief at how the counterfeit certificate managed to pass through Nigerian authorities unnoticed. When questioned about the expenses incurred during the process, Audu explained, “I spent roughly N600,000. I did not go to the border; I only gave an immigration officer to help me get an ECOWAS passport and a backdated stamp of Nigerian Immigration and Benin, which I spent N150,000.”
Following this revelation, the Federal Government took immediate action on Tuesday, suspending the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo. Additionally, the Nigerian government imposed a ban on 18 foreign universities in a bid to address the growing concerns surrounding the authenticity of academic credentials obtained from these institutions.
