The House of Representatives has officially exonerated the Republic of Togo from the ongoing West African certificate fraud scandal, shifting its focus squarely to the Republic of Benin, where a widespread academic forgery scheme has been uncovered.
During a public hearing held in Abuja, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Bitrus Laori, disclosed that findings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Togo’s non-involvement in the certificate-for-sale operations that have plagued the region. The investigation was prompted by a petition from Sovereign Legal Practitioners on behalf of concerned educational stakeholders.
The lawmakers' attention is now centered on Benin Republic, following a 2024 undercover investigation that revealed a booming black market for academic degrees from unaccredited institutions. The exposé triggered a wave of dismissals across the Nigerian civil service, targeting individuals who had obtained unapproved foreign degrees.
Laori criticized the Federal Ministry of Education for failing to attend the hearing, noting that the Ministry had previously made declarations implicating both Togo and Benin. He emphasized the need for accountability as Nigerian students continue to grapple with the ministry’s controversial pre-qualification exam policy for foreign degree holders.
The committee has summoned the Ministry of Education to appear before it on July 10, 2025, to provide clarifications and explain its handling of foreign academic credentials.
As the probe deepens, lawmakers have vowed to dismantle the network of academic fraud threatening the credibility of Nigeria’s education system and ensure that those responsible face justice.
