Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Suspends Staff For Allegedly Forging Degree, NYSC Certificate
In a recent turn of events, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, also known as UNIZIK, has suspended a staff member on allegations of forging both a degree certificate and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. This incident has sparked a debate about the prevalence of such cases, the consequences of academic fraud, and the measures institutions take to maintain academic integrity.
Due to accusations of credential fraud, Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor, an employee of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has been placed on administrative leave.
Nwafor allegedly falsified his degree and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate out of desperation to get hired at the institution, according to a news statement issued by Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor on Public Relations and Special Duties.
Nwafor’s employment at the institution has been paused for a period of six months, according to Ojukwu, while additional procedures are carried out prior to a final disposal action.
While the authentic result under the name Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor results in the third class, the counterfeit statement of Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya results in the second-class lower division.
Nwafor encountered difficulties after he wrote to the institution to request a modification of his degree outcome.
Nwafor’s employment with the institution has been stopped for a period of six months, according to Ojukwu, while additional procedures are carried out in his case prior to a final resolution.
The statement read in part, “The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone, has approved the immediate suspension of Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya (Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor) over allegations of presentation of forged and fake degree results to the university.
“In a bid to secure employment at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya, whose real name is Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor, abandoned his undergraduate program and forged the university statement of result and a letter of exclusion from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“He later went ahead to complete his degree program.
“The whole scenario emanated when Mr. Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya wrote to the university requesting to change his degree result.
“The new result he submitted bears a different name, Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor and a different class of degree, and this resulted in suspicion.
“Upon further investigation, it was discovered that this staff forged his degree result and letter of exclusion from the NYSC based on the obvious disparity between the documents he submitted originally and the new documents he was trying to substitute.
“The class of degree in both results presented varies; the forged statement of result with the name Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya bears second class lower division, while the original result with the name Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor bears third class.
“In following due process, the Vice Chancellor, in exercising his powers based on the university rules and regulations, approved his immediate suspension from the employment of the university for six months while his case undergoes other processes in the university before final disposal action,” Ojukwu stated.
