The House of Representatives has approved a 10-year security protection plan for investigative journalist Umar Audu following his exposé that uncovered a widespread certificate racketeering scheme involving the sale of fake university degrees from the Benin Republic to Nigerians.
Audu’s undercover report revealed the existence of a syndicate that helps Nigerians obtain unearned degrees from universities in the Benin Republic. Many of these fraudulent certificates were then cleared by government bodies, including the Ministry of Education.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the joint House Committees on University, Polytechnic, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Youth Development are currently investigating the scandal.
Representative Abubakar Fulata, chairman of the committee, announced the House’s resolution and directed the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies to ensure Audu’s safety for the next ten years.
“We are grateful to Audu for his courage. We urge the Minister of the Interior to ensure that the Civil Defence provides the required support alongside the police,” Fulata said.
During his testimony, Audu described how he obtained a degree from a Benin Republic university without attending a single class and managed to have it cleared by the Ministry of Education after paying a fee of ₦40,000.
Reacting to the report, Minister of the Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo proposed the establishment of a centralised, automated system for verifying educational qualifications to prevent future incidents.
“Such an error did not occur under this administration. However, a unified, automated portal is essential to curb this menace,” he said, while also offering an apology to Nigerians for the oversight.
The Minister of Education, Mr. Olatunji Alausa, was represented at the hearing by a director in the ministry, Mrs. Larai Ahmed. She confirmed that the department responsible for processing Audu’s certificate had been overhauled, and stricter safeguards were now in place.
Also present was NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, who disclosed that the corps had implemented biometric verification for certificates submitted by prospective corps members.
“We deeply regret the anomaly and are collaborating with relevant agencies. Our verification system is now stronger, and we have initiated reforms to prevent any recurrence,” Nafiu said.
The House committee reaffirmed its commitment to completing a thorough investigation and enforcing necessary reforms to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education and public service systems.
