ICPC changes registrar, four others over illegal outreach centre

FIVE persons including the Registrar of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State, Adenike Oloketuyi, have been arraigned before a Benin High Court in Benin City, Edo State, on an eight-count charge of operating an illegal outreach centre.

The accused allegedly collect illegal fees from unsuspecting members of the public, claiming that the centre (Institute of Continuing Education) is said to be affiliated to Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State and Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko.

They were also accused of awarding degrees illegally without the approval of the Federal Government through the Minister of Education.

The accused are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for running an illegal degree-awarding institution.

Resident Consultant for ICPC, Folu Olamiti, told The Guardian that the centre had been running the programmes and collecting tuition from students, two of who petitioned the commission. Those who petitioned the ICPC were named as Esther Izubokun and Samuel Temitope Popoola.

The accused were arraigned before Justice Edigin of the Benin High Court for assuming the authority they did not have and also abusing their offices by running an illegal outreach centre at the Institute of Continuing Education, Benin City, which awarded degrees without the approval of the Minister of Education as is required by law.

A court charge paper obtained from the court named the accused persons as Michael Aideyan, David Ojo, Institute of Continuing Education, Benin City, Adenike Oloketuyi and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.

Aideyan and Ojo were said to be the rector and registrar of the institute between 1996 and 2007 when they operated the centre purportedly affiliated to Ambrose Alli University for the award of degrees.

The offence, according to the court, contravened the National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions Act Cap E3 of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

In count-two, the ICPC joined Aideyan, Ojo with Oloketuyi (the registrar of Adekunle Ajasin University) for running an illegal outreach centre between 2008 and 2011. The “institute” was alleged to have been affiliated to the Adekunle Ajasin University within the period for the award of illegal university degrees.

The accused were also charged for fraudulently obtaining N45,000 as tuition fees from Izubokun, a student admitted in the centre at the Institute of Continuing Education, Benin City. The tuition fee was obtained in 2008 for the 2007/2008 academic year. Likewise, the trio were accused of obtaining another N45,000 from the same Izubokun in 2010 for the 2008/2009 academic year.

Another student (Popoola) admitted at the outreach centre was also said to have paid N45,000 as tuition fees for the 2008/2009 academic year and the same amount for the 2009/2010 academic session.

The prosecution could not begin because service of the charge could not be effected on Oloketuyi prior to the hearing. Oloketuyi was said to have been away at the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.

The prosecution, however, asked for adjournment to be able to arraign all accused persons. The case was then adjourned till May 22, 2012, for plea taking by the accused persons.