The founder and chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Dr. Victoria Okoronkwo, has cried out over alleged assault and attempts to tarnish the institute's hard-earned image.

CIPMN in the same vein cautioned members of the Nigerian public over plots by its former top officers to swindle innocent people by offering them fake training, leading to issuance of “fake certificate.”

Okoronkwo, who was also the pioneer president of CIPMN, made the allegations in a statement she issued on Thursday and shared with news media. She said moves to undermine her and rubbish the organization by suspected “fraudsters” have been uncovered.

In the statement she titled: EXPOSING THE IMPOSTORS AND FRAUDSTERS TARNISHING THE REPUTATION OF CIPMN, Okoronkwo alleged that the suspects “have been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public by issuing fake certificates, conducting unauthorized training and inductions, and actively working to undermine the institute's integrity and purpose”. The individuals she labelled “imposters and fraudsters” and accused them of issuing fake certificates, conducting unauthorized training among others, include a former registrar.

Additionally, the CIPMN chief accused the top personnel of the organization of abuse of position, emphasizing he, along with others subverted the objectives of the institute for personal gains.

Okoronkwo maintains that “This group of impostors and fraudsters must be brought to justice”.

The statement read in part, “Their actions are a direct assault on the professionalism, integrity, and credibility of CIPMN.

“As the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pioneer President of CIPMN, I will not relent until every individual involved in this grand conspiracy is held accountable.

“The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria stands firm in its resolve to expose and expel every fraudulent element masquerading under the guise of legitimacy.

“The CIPMN’s Establishment Act No 3 of 2018 remains the guiding authority, and all attempts to subvert it shall be vehemently opposed.

“This is a call to action to all stakeholders, members of the public, and relevant authorities to join us in safeguarding the integrity of the Institute and ensuring that those who seek to destroy it are brought to justice”.

Okoronkwo supports this statement with a judgment delivered by an FCT High Court, SUIT NO: CV/125/19, on 15th December 2020, which pronounced the dismissal of the said official.

“This judgment was subsequently enforced by the CIPMN Council vide a letter (Ref No: CIPMN/TOA.HIM.06.21) dated 18th June 2021”, Okoronkwo insists.

Another allegation she levelled against the group was an attempt to hijack the CIPMN’s website and domain host.

She said in the statement that they “attempted to hijack the CIPMN website by intimidating the designer and host”, stressing, “Despite our swift action to curtail this hijack attempt, the fraudsters have continued using the domain, cipmn.gov.ng, a direct violation as CIPMN is not an agency of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments (FMITI)”.