By Daniel Edu
1. Dino Melaye:
In 2017, the former senator faced allegations of forging his Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University, which led to legal battles and debates about the authenticity of his academic records.
2. Salisu Buhari:
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999 was involved in the “Toronto University Saga.” He falsified his age and university credentials, claiming to have graduated from Toronto University, which later turned out to be false. Buhari resigned and disappeared from public view but resurfaced in Nigerian politics years later.
3. Nyesom Wike:
Before the 2019 elections, Governor Nyesom Wike was sued for allegedly forging his Age Certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He was accused of manipulating his age to qualify for the governorship election and faced allegations of providing false information about his birth date.
4. Kemi Adeosun:
The former Nigerian Finance Minister faced controversy for allegedly forging an NYSC exemption certificate, allowing her to skip the mandatory National Youth Service Corps program. She eventually resigned from her position but was later vindicated by the court.
5. Ademola Adeleke:
Before the 2018 Osun governorship election, Ademola Adeleke’s academic credentials were challenged. Reports revealed discrepancies in his O’ Level results and debunked his claim of earning a diploma from Jacksonville State University. Despite these controversies, he contested the election on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket but lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
These cases underscore the importance of verifying the educational qualifications of public officials and ensuring transparency in the political landscape.
