Petition Fired Against Ex-Gusau Aide And Taraba Sports Commissioner’s Degree From Benin Pizza University
Security agencies in Taraba State have been petitioned to investigate former media aide of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and now Taraba State Commissioner for Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Joseph Joshua for allegedly obtaining a degree from a university in Benin Republic that was recently reported to have fraudulently given a degree in six weeks.
Recently, shocking revelations by undercover reporter saw this ESGT University in Cotonou give him a degree in 6 weeks “like pizza” after he paid a sum of money and with degree certificate he even participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The report has since forced the Federal Government of Nigeria to suspend the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo.
In a petition, dated 15th January, 2024, addressed to the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Taraba State Command, Jalingo, the petitioner, Sulaiman Adamu ‘Scatter, of Jalingo Local Government Area asked the security agencies to investigate the certificate – bachelor of science (BSc) in Information Technology with Second Class (Upper Decision) of ESGT University, Benin Republic (Cotonou) obtained by Joseph Joshua in 2021 as his highest qualification and submitted to the Taraba State House of Assembly during his screening and confirmation of his nomination as Commissioner from Takum Local Government Area.
The petition was copied to the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Police Command, Jalingo.
According to the petitioner, there was never a time that the Commissioner left Nigeria to Benin Republic for the purpose of studies, emphasising that the agencies should use their respected offices to thoroughly investigate the Commissioner with a view of finding the number of times he visited Benin Republic for the purpose of studies, the years he covered and his international passport evidencing his frequent visits to the country during the period he claimed he obtained the said certificate.
Citing the recent undercover report by an investigative journalist, who discovered the atrocities eminating from the same university, claimed to have been graduated from by the Commissioner where degrees are obtained in six weeks, it’s therefore necessary without any hesitation, the agencies commence investigation on Mr. Joseph Joshua for the purpose of finding out the genuineness or otherwise of his certificate.
When contacted on the matter, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Digital Communication, Hon. Emmanuel Bello said he was not aware of the petition.
