Reps Clear Togo In Certificate Scandal, Shift Focus To Benin Republic
The House of Representatives has cleared the Republic of Togo of involvement in the fake certificate scandal that shook Nigeria’s education sector in recent years.
However, lawmakers have shifted their focus to the Republic of Benin, where an alleged syndicate is said to be running a certificate forgery operation.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Bitrus Laori, disclosed this during a resumed hearing in Abuja on Friday, following a petition filed by Sovereign Legal Practitioners on behalf of education stakeholders.
The petition challenged a 2024 declaration by the Federal Ministry of Education that linked both Togo and Benin Republic to widespread certificate fraud.
Laori stated, “The Republic of Togo has been cleared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The outstanding issue remains with the Republic of Benin.”
The committee adjourned proceedings to Thursday, July 10, 2025, following the absence of the petitioners’ lawyer and issued another summons to the Federal Ministry of Education.
“We need clarification on the pre-qualification examinations being imposed on graduates from the Benin Republic, which is currently affecting hundreds of Nigerian students and graduates,” Laori added.
This comes after an undercover Nigerian journalist uncovered a thriving certificate racketeering ring in Benin Republic in late 2024, sparking national outrage and leading to the dismissal of civil servants who obtained degrees from unaccredited universities in both countries between 2017 and 2024.
With Togo now exonerated, attention is firmly on the Republic of Benin.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
