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Students under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Ogun State, have dragged AbdulAkeem Agboola, the suspended professor of Mathematics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), over alleged age falsification.
In a petition jointly signed by Damilola Simeon, the Ogun State chairman of NANS; Gbemileke Ogunrounbi, the National President of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS); and Adebowale Adeniran, the Vice President of the National Association of University Students and submitted to the ICPC on Monday, the students alleged that the university is planning to clear Agboola of all the allegations.
“We have it on good record that the powers that be have perfected plans to extricate and absolve Prof. AbdulAkeem Agboola of all charges. They, therefore, plan to present the measly suspension as enough punishment for his corruption charges without following due process.
“Consequently, plans are now in place to restore him to his former position while all charges are dropped,” the petition read.
Agboola was suspended by the university over alleged inconsistencies in the age and names on the documents he submitted to the management.
The Mathematics professor joined the institution in 1994 using a ‘To Whom It May Concern’ letter to authenticate his MSc certificate, according to the university. He then proceeded with it to pursue his Ph.D.
It was gathered that Agboola celebrated his 58th birthday in 2018, and his 60th last year.However, the date of birth on the credentials he submitted to the university reads ‘1965,’ indicating he is 56 years old as of 2021.
According to the petition dated September 13, 2021, and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, the students stated that the university don “was indicted on age falsification, result manipulation and other unimaginable diabolism by Staff Establishment Unit of the institution.”
The students maintained that plans were underway to pardon Agboola and clear him of all allegations and called on the ICPC to ensure the matter is not swept under the carpet.
“It is on this note that we demand that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission wade into this matter by engaging in thorough investigation and due process so as to forestall the looming institutional collapse.
“We further demand that within three working days, a public or private response to this petition be issued with a message of hope and assurance that this issue will not be swept under the carpet and that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission will do everything within its constitutional powers to ensure that justice is fully served,” the petition added.
(Premium Times)