BREAKING: Forged NYSC Cert: NSITF MD, Akabogu goes into hiding following Police investigation

…NYSC disown Akabogu’s Discharge Certificate

By Shedrack Onitsha,

The Managing Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr Michael Akabogu has gone into hiding following Police summon in connection to his alleged forgery of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate he has been parading.

Recall that Advocate.ng in an exclusive report on December 8^th 2022, reported that Managing Director of 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 NYSC discharge certificate to gain an appointment.NSITF MD/CE, Akabogu in alleged fake NYSC certificate scandal

Advocate.ng report that Akaboqu allegedly gained a Director level appointment some 6 years ago at NSITF and subsequently 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 us in confidence said that Dr Akabogu claimed that he was mobilised vide NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402 for the first batch from 4th Oct 1991 to 3rd October 1992, however, check shows that his claims were not true.

Meanwhile, following a petition to the Police by a whistleblower wherein the NSITF boss was accused of allegedly parading a fake NYSC Discharge Certificate with Number: A030544, the police invited Dr Akabogu for questioning after the authority of NYSC denied issuing the fake NYSC discharged certificate.

Advocate.ng further gathered that after Mr Akabogu visited the police on Thursday for questioning, he horridly left for Abuja Airport, from where he allegedly flied to Lagos and where his hiding, hoping that he could use his contacts to stop police further investigation to his questionable NYSC and other certificates.

Our source said “On Thursday last week, December 8, 2022 precisely, Dr. Akabogu left the office his driver, but the driver was to return alone to the office without him, there are speculation that following the invitation by the police has gone to Lagos to hid there, while hoping that the Presidency will talk to the police to backdown on the investigation of his NYSC certificate. So, since then he has not been coming to work and his whereabout unknown to the staff.

According to the petition, Akabogu, claimed he was mobilised for the compulsory one-year Service, vide NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402 for the first Batch from 4th of October 1991, to 3rd of October, 1992.

The invitation letter dated December 8, 2022 and copied Minister of Labour and Employment, the Police said it is investigating a case of the criminal complaint against the NSTIF Managing Director.

The letter reads: “The Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division FCT, Abuja is investigating a case of a criminal complaint in which your name featured prominently.

“In view of the above, it is requested that you should report to the above office on 12th December 2022, at approximately 11.00hours in furtherance to the above complaint.

“This is a fact-finding mission and your presence is important”.

According The Nation report, a discreet investigation was carried out upon the receipt of the petition against Akabogu, the outcome of the investigation showed that he has a case to answer hence his was invited by the police for questioning.

Collaborating Advocate.ng report, findings by The Nation showed that the NYSC Certificate with Number: A030544, allegedly paraded by the NSITF boss was not issued by the Corps.

NYSC in a letter of response with reference number: NYSC/CCD/VER/10/S.1/VOL/07 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Divisional Police Headquarters, The Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division, FCT Command, Abuja, said it did not issue the Certificate.

The letter signed by the Acting Director Corps Certification, Ibrahim A.M, reads in part: “Your letter Re: Case of forgery involving a Corps member, Akabugu Michael C. with State Code No. OG/FUTO/91/23402

“Your letter Ref. No: CR:3000/FCT/UT/VOL.10/69 dated 3rd November, 2022 on the above subject refers, please.

“I wish to inform you that the Certificate of National Service belonging to Akabugu Michael C with Certificate number: A030544 forwarded for verification was not issued by the NYSC.

“However, you are requested to retrieve the original Certificate for onward submission to the NYSC”.

Confirming the Police invitation, the spokesperson of the FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, said the Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji ordered a discreet investigation over the complaint.

When contacted, NSITF Manager Corporate Affairs, Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo, said she only heard of the issue as a rumour.

“Actually, this is not the fund’s issue but I will still find out from the MD and give a proper response,” she said.

Efforts to reach the NSTIF boss for his reaction were abortive. He neither responded to calls nor answered text messages sent to him.