Reps Approve Decade-Long Protection for Journalist Who Exposed Benin Republic Degree Scam

Parrot Newspaper (ISSN 3092-8435)
May 19, 2025
By Parrot Investigative Desk
Reps Approve Decade-Long Protection for Journalist Who Exposed Benin Republic Degree Scam

By Ricky Awodi

In a rare but significant move, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has ordered a 10-year security cover for investigative journalist Umar Audu following his explosive undercover report that exposed a vast cross-border certificate fraud syndicate operating between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

Audu, who posed as a student, successfully obtained a university degree in the Benin Republic without attending lectures or writing exams. The certificate, shockingly, passed through Nigeria’s Ministry of Education’s verification process—for just ₦40,000.

Systemic Breach, Institutional Failure

The House’s decision was announced by Rep. Abubakar Fulata, Chair of the Joint Committee currently investigating the scandal. The investigation involves the Committees on Universities, Polytechnics, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Youth Development. Fulata called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to collaborate in protecting Audu from any retaliatory threats.

“We are grateful for Audu’s courage. This kind of journalism is a public service,” Fulata stated during a heated session. “We’re calling on the Minister of Interior to activate protective measures through Civil Defence and the police.”

The implications of Audu’s exposé have rippled across Nigeria’s education and public service sectors. Many of the fraudulent certificates were used to gain employment in government institutions, raising concerns over national competence, safety, and credibility.

Ministers on the Defensive, Agencies Scramble for Reforms

Appearing before the committee, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo admitted to the gravity of the revelations, though he was quick to distance the current administration from the scandal.

“Such a lapse did not happen under this administration,” Tunji-Ojo said, while advocating for a centralised, automated portal to verify foreign academic qualifications. “We apologise to Nigerians, but more importantly, we must build a foolproof system that cannot be manipulated.”

Representing the Ministry of Education, Director Mrs. Larai Ahmed disclosed that the unit responsible for verifying degrees had been overhauled. She stated that tougher scrutiny and new protocols were already being put in place.

Meanwhile, NYSC Director-General Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu told lawmakers that biometric verification has been introduced to vet certificates submitted by prospective corps members. He acknowledged that the scheme had previously validated fake credentials and promised sweeping internal reforms.

Lawmakers Demand Accountability, Structural Fixes

The committee reaffirmed its resolve to see the investigation through and insisted that reforms must follow. “This isn’t just about one journalist or one degree,” said another lawmaker at the hearing. “This is about the credibility of Nigeria’s workforce and the future of our education system.”

The scandal has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for deeper audits of civil servants’ qualifications and for tighter international educational protocols.

While Umar Audu’s safety is now officially under government protection, the question remains: how many more fraudulent degrees have slipped through the cracks—and how many holders of such certificates currently sit in sensitive offices?

Journalist Who Exposed Benin Republic Degree Scam

Parrot Newspaper will continue to follow this investigation and expose the layers of complicity that allowed this racket to thrive.