 |
| Senator Melaye Dino |
The certificate forgery case against Senator Dino Melaye has
taken another dimension as the federal government is set to venture into the
case by investigating the accusations against the senator.
taken another dimension as the federal government is set to venture into the
case by investigating the accusations against the senator.
Senator Melaye’s woe started on Monday, March 20, 2017, following
an online news media, Sahara Reporters, claimed that the senator did not
graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna state for his
first degree, against his claim that he studied geography in the prestigious institute.
an online news media, Sahara Reporters, claimed that the senator did not
graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna state for his
first degree, against his claim that he studied geography in the prestigious institute.
However the senator has refuted claims that he was not a
graduate as false, ABU is yet to make an official statement pertaining the
issue.
graduate as false, ABU is yet to make an official statement pertaining the
issue.
Today, the federal government has formally demanded that the
authority of university supply the academic details of the senator, to shed
light on the controversy over his completion of his degree programme in
geography at the university.
authority of university supply the academic details of the senator, to shed
light on the controversy over his completion of his degree programme in
geography at the university.
The Guardian said that a top official of ABU, Zaria, who beseeched
privacy, said the government had demanded the instant release of the academic chronicles
of Senator Dino Melaye and that the university was already gathering the
records for release soon.
privacy, said the government had demanded the instant release of the academic chronicles
of Senator Dino Melaye and that the university was already gathering the
records for release soon.
The official said that nobody is in doubt if Senator Melaye
attended ABU, but what was in debate was whether the politician completed his
course of study.
attended ABU, but what was in debate was whether the politician completed his
course of study.
He said: “The
university will make the relevant information available, to the best of my
knowledge, the Senator was on this campus and read a course of study for which
I think he graduated between 1997 and 1998 as the case may be.
university will make the relevant information available, to the best of my
knowledge, the Senator was on this campus and read a course of study for which
I think he graduated between 1997 and 1998 as the case may be.
“These details can
always be found in the list of graduating students of Geography in either of
those years as the case may be, but for me, I think he ran a programme and I
should think he successfully ended up in either of those years I mentioned.”
always be found in the list of graduating students of Geography in either of
those years as the case may be, but for me, I think he ran a programme and I
should think he successfully ended up in either of those years I mentioned.”
Also, a student union government (SUG) official activist and
departmental mate of Senator Melaye, who also seek anonymity, said he and the
senator were officials of the national union of geography students at ABU.
departmental mate of Senator Melaye, who also seek anonymity, said he and the
senator were officials of the national union of geography students at ABU.
“While Dino was the
National President of Geography Department, I was the Assistant Secretary
General, I presided over his impeachment during the controversy leading to his
ousting from that office.
National President of Geography Department, I was the Assistant Secretary
General, I presided over his impeachment during the controversy leading to his
ousting from that office.
“Let me tell you, Dino
was a radical student activist in campus. I will give that to him and at a
point he was confrontational to the establishment in the University. And at
last, the institution did everything possible to bring him close and later
became the eyes of the authority on campus,” he said.
was a radical student activist in campus. I will give that to him and at a
point he was confrontational to the establishment in the University. And at
last, the institution did everything possible to bring him close and later
became the eyes of the authority on campus,” he said.
He add: “I can
attest that Senator Dino actually completed a course of study in Geography in
1998; whether he had carry-over in some courses that were later waved is what I
cannot say.”
attest that Senator Dino actually completed a course of study in Geography in
1998; whether he had carry-over in some courses that were later waved is what I
cannot say.”
“I think Dino later
graduated from ABU, Zaria with a Third class or Pass. I am sure of that. Let
anybody not deceive you that he did not study or graduate in ABU. Go and find
out, he did. He is stubborn, that I will give to him. And I think that is what
is still trailing him in the Senate,” he said.
graduated from ABU, Zaria with a Third class or Pass. I am sure of that. Let
anybody not deceive you that he did not study or graduate in ABU. Go and find
out, he did. He is stubborn, that I will give to him. And I think that is what
is still trailing him in the Senate,” he said.
“The Senator and I
were in Geography Department and two of us were also officials of the National
Union of Geography Students at ABU.”
were in Geography Department and two of us were also officials of the National
Union of Geography Students at ABU.”
Recall that as soon as the news on Melaye’s certificate
scandal pop up, President Muhammadu Buhari showed his concern over the spread of
examination malpractices and fake certificates virus in the country.
scandal pop up, President Muhammadu Buhari showed his concern over the spread of
examination malpractices and fake certificates virus in the country.
President Buhari also condemned the rate at which public
servants and individuals of questionable wealth were being celebrated with
alumni recognitions, given honorary degrees, chieftaincy titles and even higher
religious titles
servants and individuals of questionable wealth were being celebrated with
alumni recognitions, given honorary degrees, chieftaincy titles and even higher
religious titles
Buhari stated that cheating in examination and obtaining of
fake certificates among Nigerians had become a normalcy due to collapse of
values in the society.
fake certificates among Nigerians had become a normalcy due to collapse of
values in the society.
