UNIZIK Suspends Staff For Allegedly Forging Degree, NYSC Certificate

A staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, named Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor, has been placed on administrative leave due to allegations of credential fraud. According to a statement issued by Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor on Public Relations and Special Duties, Nwafor is accused of fabricating his academic degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate in an attempt to secure employment at the university.

The situation unfolded when Nwafor requested a modification of his degree outcome from the institution. Consequently, his employment has been suspended for a period of six months, as stated by Ojukwu, pending further investigations and procedures to reach a final resolution.

The statement released reads, “The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone, has authorized the immediate suspension of Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya (Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor) on grounds of presenting forged and counterfeit degree documents to the University.

In an effort to secure a position at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya, whose true identity is Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor, abandoned his undergraduate program and counterfeited the university’s statement of result and a letter of exclusion from the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).

The issue came to light when Mr. Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya requested a change in his degree result from the university.

The new result he submitted had a different name, Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor, and a different class of degree, which raised suspicions.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that this employee had forged his degree result and the NYSC exclusion letter, as there were significant disparities between the original documents he submitted and the new ones he tried to replace.

The class of degree in both documents presented varied; the forged statement of result with the name Nwafor Osborne Ogbonnaya displayed a second-class lower division, whereas the original result with the name Nwafor Ogbonnaya Nwesuzor showed a third class.

“Following the appropriate procedures, the Vice Chancellor, in line with the university’s rules and regulations, has approved his immediate suspension from the university’s employment for six months while his case undergoes further internal processes before a final decision is made,” Ojukwu explained.