Authorities of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma have queried, Dr Omoregie Nosa, the Acting Head of Department (HoD) of Accounting of the institution over allegations bordering on alleged massive and large-scale certificate and transcript racketeering at the institution.

Dr Omoregie is also accused of establishing a cybercafé, which is dedicated to the illegal issuance of fake certificates and transcripts of the university.

The query, Our Ref. FEG/SSA/P.3358/177 followed a report by the Directorate of State Security (DSS) that the cybercafé owned by the lecturer at the “has been observed to be engaged in the production of fake certificates and transcripts.”

Dated December 12, 2023, the query by the registrar, Mr. Ambrose Odiase university authorities pointedly accused the acting HoD of issuing a fake certificate to one Osolase, Deborah Ebarekenta, a graduate of the Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science.

Continuing, Mr. Odiase wrote that “there is a Directorate of State Security report that your Cyber Café has been observed to be engaged in the production of fake certificates and transcripts.”

According to the registrar, the allegation against the acting head of department bordered on indiscipline and insubordination, as well as lack of respect for constituted authority.

Dr. Omoregie who was ordered to respond to the query within 48 hours on the receipt of the query also stood accused of gross misconduct, an allegation which is prejudicial to the interest of AAU Law 1999 (as amended) as well as the Senior Staff Regulations and Scheme of the University 2010 (as amended).

It would be recalled that the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had in a memo dated July 2, 2021 to the former vice chancellor, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo accused the embattled teacher of extortion unauthorized collections of money such as the selling of file which goes for about a N100 for a whopping ₦1,000

In the joint memo by Dr. Monday Igbafen, the former chairperson of AAU chapter of ASUU and Dr. A.A Aizebioje-Coker and the secretary, the union also accused him of using his office as Acting HoD to collect ₦30,000 per post-graduate student for presentation/defense of proposals/seminars against the approved regulation of Senate.

Igbafen and Azebioje-Coker petitioned: “Dr. Omoregie, using his office as acting Head of Department, has been collecting from the Part-time students between ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 under the guise of checking for missing results. The phenomenon of missing results has since been outlawed by the Senate of the university.

ASUU also charged him with conversion of departmental properties such as a new yellow 5KVA generator donated to the department by the Accounting Student Association (NUASA) 2018/2019 (exco), 20 plastic chairs donated to the department by the post- graduate students, laptop and projector bought for the department by the postgraduate students for personal use amongst other allegations of financial impropriety.

The unionists added: “For over two years, Dr. Omoregie as Acting Head of Department did not call for any Departmental Board of Studies (DBS) meetings and results were never tabled for approval by the board.

During this same period, allocation of courses and allocation of research essays were also not considered and approved by the board before public display. “

In a swift response, Dr. Nosa Omoregie said all their allegations were lies.

He said he does not have a cyber café adding that they just wanted to tarnish his image because they felt that he is working with the government.

“I do not have a cyber café. People want to tarnish my image just because they believe that I am working with the government.

“It is totally untrue. I don’t own a cyber café neither do I print certificate and transcripts for students,” Omoregie said. (Daily Sun)

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