…insists case of 85 others must be made public!
The management of the University of Calabar, Unical, has reacted to the scandal currently involving 101 purported graduates of the institution whose National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificates have been invalidated by the NYSC after it was discovered that the affected persons were fraudulently mobilized for service.
Gabriel Egbe, Registrar of the institution, in a response dated August 13, 2024, maintains that: “It was the University Management that exposed this criminal act and brought it to the attention of NYSC and other organizations and not the other way around.”
He further disclosed that, “In September 2023, internal sources were brought to the attention of a certain individual who had not graduated and was on national service purportedly from our institution. We quickly launched an investigation which confirmed the allegation and revealed 10 more cases of infiltration of the NYSC portal.”
“Arising from this report, we wrote on 4th October 2023, to NYSC appealing that those 11 persons involved be apprehended and prosecuted. On the 24th of October NYSC responded in line with our resolve to launch a full-scale investigation into the issue. On the 31st of October, the University wrote to the ICPC Uyo Resident Office inviting the agency to wade into the matter. Though management had agreed to work quietly with NYSC and security agencies to apprehend the culprits, we had to set up a full-scale investigative committee due to unfolding events. The committee concluded its work on the 18th of December, 2023. Meanwhile, NYSC was notified on the 5th of November.”
Egbe was also particular about one Obi Obi Endurance, a Data Entry Officer in the university, being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, suspected to have perpetrated fraud in this direction, while also maintaining that the culpable students, purportedly holding certificates from the university, hold fake certificates.
While commending the NYSC for making public, the the fate of this 101 persons, the institution’s release wants the NYSC to issue a release about the remaining 85 persons, also fingered as having breached the online portal.