Ex-FIIRO DG remanded for using fake Ph.D certificate to collect 18 years’ salaries

Tayo AFOLABI

The former Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has been ordered remanded for allegedly collecting salaries for 18 years with a phantom doctorate certificate.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission arraigned Igwe on Friday.

Mr Igwe has been under ICPC investigation for claiming to have secured a Ph.D. at the Universite d’Abomey Calavi, Republic of Benin, but has no certificate to show for it.

He is said to have risen through the ranks in FIIRO based on a letter of attestation from the university for about 18 years, prompting some officials of the institute to petition the ICPC.

The ICPC said in a statement in February 2020 that investigation showed that Mr. Igwe actually completed the three-year programme between 1999 and 2002, and wrote his thesis.

However, the commission said he did not defend the thesis, and so cannot be said to have been awarded a Ph.D.

Justice Sherifat Solebo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court gave the order of remand.