Months after the Termites Saga, TIF’s CEO is involved in a NYSC certificate forgery scandal

Dr. Michael Akabogu, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), has been accused of falsifying his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate.
According to Naija News, Akabogu was accused of forgery in a petition submitted by a whistleblower to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The NSITF boss was accused in a police petition of displaying a fake NYSC Discharge Certificate with the number: A030544.

According to the petition, Akabogu claimed that he was mobilized for the mandatory one-year national service under NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402 for the first Batch from October 4, 1991 to October 2, 1992.

In a letter dated December 8, 2022, and copied to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Police have summoned Akabogu over the allegation.

According to the police, they are looking into a criminal complaint filed against the NSTIF CEO, who is accused of falsifying his NYSC Discharge Certificate, which is attached to his Curriculum Vitae.

“The Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division FCT, Abuja is investigating a case of a criminal complaint in which your name appears prominently,” according to the letter.

“In light of the foregoing, it is requested that you report to the above office on December 12, 2022, at approximately 11.00 a.m., in response to the above complaint.”

“Your participation in this fact-finding mission is essential.”

A Police source familiar with the situation, however, told LEADERSHIP that after the petition against Akabogu was received, a discreet investigation was launched.

“When the petition was submitted,” he explained, “a crack team was formed to investigate the matter, and a letter was written to the NYSC to confirm the authenticity of the Certificate,” as a result of which he was called in to testify about the veracity of our findings.

FCT Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed the police invitation, saying that the Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, had ordered a discreet investigation of the complaint.

“We invited him because the NYSC had written a letter of complaint to the Commissioner of Police,” she explained.

This development comes months after Akabogu failed to justify spending N17.158 billion, claiming that termites had eaten up the documents containing proof of expenditure.

In 2013, the Senate Committee conducted an investigation into the illegal transfer of funds from First Bank and Skye Bank to personal accounts and corporations.