Ph.D degree fraud: Court orders remand of fmr FIIRO DG, Chima Igwe, at Kirikiri

• Faces 3-count charge Certificate forgery

A former acting Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Chima Igwe, was on Friday ordered by an Ikeja Court to be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Center over allegations of certificate forgery. The presiding Judge, Justice Sherifat Solebo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court ordered the remand of Chima Igwe on Friday, after he pleaded not guilty plea to a three-count charge of producing a document with false information, using his office to proffer unfair advantage, and making false statement to a public officer.

The former FIIRO DG is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

The lead prosecutor for the ICPC, Henry Umore, had told the court that Igwe committed the offences in Lagos sometime in December 2002.

The ICPC alleged that the defendant, being a public officer with FIIRO knowingly gave with intent to deceive, an attestation letter signifying the completion of a Ph.D degree from the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Republic of Benin to the research institute to gain promotion ahead of other directors.

Emore highlighted before the court: “he conferred unfair advantage upon himself through the presentation of attestation letter which enabled him to gain many promotions at FIIRO and rise through the ranks to the Directorate cadre.

“Sometime in January 2020, he made a false statement to Detective Andrew Osove, an Investigating Officer with the ICPC.

“He falsely told Osove that he completed his Ph.D program at UAC, Republic of Benin, in 2001 when, indeed, he knew that such a statement was untrue at that particular time.”

The offences were said to contravene Sections 17(1)(c), 19 and 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

The defence counsel, E.O Ekong, through a bail application dated Sept. 27 and supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit, requested the court to grant the defendant bail in most liberal terms.

The presiding Judge, Justice Solebo, in a brief judgement, granted Igwe bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The Judge highlighting the bail conditions, declared: “the two sureties should reside in Lagos and should be employed with proof of income. The address of the sureties must be verified by the court.

“The defendant is to be remanded at the Correctional Center, pending the perfection of bail.

“This case is adjourned till 21, 22, 23 and 24 Feb. 2022 at 9am for trial.”

Chima was removed from office and petitions by HEDA, including protests for him to vacate office after the Ph.D certificate claim was detected to be false.