By Milcah Tanimu
The Federal High Court in Abuja has mandated the confiscation of ₦10.7 million connected to Ecole Supérieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, Benin Republic University. This directive follows an investigation initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2023, aimed at probing degree mills operating in Benin Republic universities.
According to Demola Bakare, the spokesperson for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC), an ex-parte motion filed by Aniekan Ekong, Esq, representing the ICPC, before Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, alleged that the funds discovered in Zenith Bank account number 1007884857 belonged to Togboui Gnadzo Soncy Koakli, Vice Chancellor of the University, and were proceeds from degree racketeering.
Bakare revealed that the ICPC’s investigation focused on alleged criminal conspiracy and degree racketeering involving Togboui and his associates, who are promoters of Access Institute of Advanced Learning (AIAL) purportedly located in Kano. The promoters, identified as Mubarak Hamza Adam, Abdullahi Shehu Yusuf, and Abdulrahma Hadi Badamosi from the Federal College of Education, Kano, are suspected of offering fake degrees to Nigerians for a fee, collecting payments from individuals seeking degrees from ESGT and sharing the proceeds with Togboui.
Ekong presented evidence to the court indicating that victims made payments in both cash and bank transfers. Consequently, the court granted the ICPC’s request for the interim forfeiture of the ₦10.7 million.
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