MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Frank Oshanugor
The Managing Director of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Dr. Michael Akabogu, who recently gained national attention for notoriously accusing termites as responsible for the loss of over 17bn vouchers is yet again in another scandal of allegedly presenting a forged National Youth Service Certificate (NYSC) discharge certificate to gain an appointment.
It was gathered that Akabogu allegedly gained a Director level appointment some six years ago at NSITF and subsequently was appointed the substantive Managing Director/Chief Executive of the same agency in 2021 with an alleged forged NSITF discharge certificate with Certificate Number: A030544.
A source at the NSITF who spoke to some journalists in confidence said that Dr. Akabogu claimed that he was mobilised vide NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402 for the first batch from 4th October 1991 to 3rd October 1992, however, investigation showed that he might not be telling the truth.
It is statutory in Nigeria that no citizen, who is a graduate of either the University or polytechnic is allowed to be employed in either the private or public sector, without having gone through a mandatory one-year national service once he or she is below the age of thirty years. This requirement is well spelt out in Section 12 of the NYSC Act and enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. Those who are above thirty years at the time of graduation are exempted from the mandatory one year service and eligible to be issued with exemption certificate by the authorities of the NYSC.
A whistleblower, who is also ready to meet the Managing Director in court and testify under oath, confirmed that their investigation showed that the first batch of 1991 Corps Members were mobilised on the 16th of September, 1991 and discharged/passed out on the 15th of September 1992. They, therefore, wondered if Dr Akabogu had a special mobilisation arrangement with the NYSC.
There are concerns that the Honourable Minister, was misadvised by the fraudster and his cronies to recommend him to Mr. President to take up the position of Managing Director of NSITF, which he was not qualified to hold ab-initio. The Honourable Minister and the Law enforcement agencies should therefore take urgent action.
The NYSC scam is the latest of the various infractions of the embattled Dr. Michael Akabogu.
The source added that the, “Managing Director must do the needful and vacate the seat and refund every money from the government in salaries, wages, allowances and executives, as honourably as Kemi Adeosun, Former Finance Minister did. The Minister of Labour is prevailed upon to ensure the Public Service, which he is a product of, is not ridiculed by someone who was not qualified originally to be appointed, to continue in service and holding such exalted public office with fraudulent and dubious claims.
Sources close to the whistleblower are also doubtful of the authenticity of the American postgraduate degrees he flaunts given that he could easily forge NYSC discharge certificate to have public service appointments
