The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) is set to investigate The Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Dr Chima Igwe, for failing to present his PhD certificate more than 18 years after claiming to have bagged the degree.
FIIRO places premium on a doctorate degree to earn promotion, Igwe, who claimed to have bagged the degree from the Universite Nationale du Benin (now Universite d’Abomey- Calavi) in Benin Republic, received several promotions based on the purported degree.
However, the only evidence of the purported PhD is an attestation letter.
The issue became contentious when the tenure of the immediate past Director-General of FIIRO, Prof. Gloria Elemo, ended and there was the need for a new head for the institute.
Igwe, being the most senior, was the apparent successor to the office until the controversy resurfaced: a PhD certificate could not be found in his file to support his claim.
The Chairman of the Governing Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwarzo, in a letter to the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, said Igwe was not fit to occupy the position.
He explained that the officer had refused to submit his PhD certificate “17 years after submitting a letter of attestation.”
