NSITF MD/CE, Akabogu in alleged fake NYSC certificate scandal

The Managing Director of Nigeria 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 NYSC discharge certificate to gain an appointment.

Advocate.ng gathered 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 he might not be telling the truth.

Our findings revealed that in Nigeria, no citizen, who is a graduate, is allowed to be employed in either the private or public sector, without having gone through a mandatory one-year national service. This requirement is well spelt out in Section 12 of the NYSC Act and enshrined in the 1999 Constitution

The 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, who 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. Therefore called on the Honourable Minister and the Law enforcement agencies to take urgent action to save the Fund from Akabogu the imposter and the troubles it portends for the Fund.

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.

“He is an impostor and a fraud. Sources close to the whistleblower are 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.