The Nigerian government has suspended the accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo. Photos credit: @NigeriaStories.. Source: Twitter
- The president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Benin Republic, Ugochukwu Favour, has demanded the arrest of journalist Umar Audu
- Legit.ng earlier reported that Audu recently exposed corruption in the French-speaking country’s certificate issuance process
- Favour also called for leniency over the ban on validation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo, saying 15,000 Nigerian students are in Benin Republic
Cotonou, Benin Republic - Ugochukwu Favour, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Benin Republic chapter, has called for the arrest of the reporter, Umar Shehu Audu, who went undercover to expose corruption in the issuance of certificates in the country.
Favour said the fact that Audu participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) twice, and that the journalist allegedly tried to tarnish the image of government agencies warrants his arrest.
The NANS official's stance followed a report detailing how a degree was acquired from a university in Benin Republic in under two months.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, January 4, on the Channels TV programme Sunrise Daily, Favour criticised the investigative reporter for having his passport stamped and obtaining certificates without being physically present.
He said:
“Your passport was stamped while you were not available there. Now, and that aside, this guy served in 2019. And he still served again in 2023."