Allegations Of Falsification And Unethical Practices Rock Ambrose Alli University: ICPC And NUC Called To Investigate

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the National Universities Commission has been called upon to investigate two lecturers; MRS. FADAL MARY EDOKPA and DR. FELIX OKOKHERE working at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma on the allegations of falsification of results and unethical practices respectively.

 

In a letter addressed to the ICPC and the NUC, anonymous individuals notified the commission that one Mrs. F.M. Edokpa in the Department of Political Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma had a falsified and fraudulent first degree, M.Sc. degree and packaged Ph.D. degree of a lecturer.

 

According to the letter, the first degree and the M. Sc are fraudulent, and the Ph. D is yet to be awarded to Mrs. Edokpa. The individuals alleged furthermore that, a discoveries from her academic records in her first degree result, shows that her grades were manipulated and altered. According to them, she failed three core courses and by the University Senate rules, she was suppose to come under ““Faculty Requirements Not Satisfied” (FRNS) an acronym for failed B.Sc; pending retaking and passing the outstanding courses. These courses as provided in the letter are:

POS101 – 1996/97 31(F)

POS214 – 1997/98 Absent

POS412 – 1998/99 36(F)

RES 312 – 1998/99 Absent

 

Furthermore, they made provided evidence of the said Mrs. Edokpa’s actual grades and falsified grades, thus:

 

1996/97

CFS101

Introduction to Computer Science

49 (D) 54 (C)

1996/97

GST102

Philosophy and Logic

46 (D) 54 (C)

1996/97

POS215

Introduction to Social Science Statistics

45 (D) 50 (C)

1996/97

POS111

Introduction t Political Science II

58 (C) 63 (B)

1996/97

GST111

Nigeria People and Culture

51 (C) 60 (B)

1996/97

GST112

History and Philosophy of Science

40 (E) 50 (C)

1997/98

POS302

Contemporary Political Analysis

42 (E) 52 (C)

1997/98

POS303

Public Policy Analysis

60 (B) 72 (A)

1997/98

POS307

International Relation Economy

61 (B) 74 (A)

1997/98

POS311

Political Thought II

50 (C) 65 (B)

1997/98

POS313

Political Behaviour

51 (C) 60 (B)

1997/98

POS318

Government and the Administration of Urban System

57 (C) 60 (B)

1998/99

POS402

The military in Politics

51 (C) 61 (B)

1998/99

POS412

Politics and Law in Africa

36 (F) 40 (E)

 

Also, it was their submission that the M.Sc of Mrs. Edokpa is questionable. According to them, there is a note from the then Administrator of Political Science (Prof. O. Imahe)which read verbatim thus: “During the collation of the results, the candidate was discovered to have failed a course and she did not rewrite in subsequent session. Therefore, the result is incomplete!” They noted that, the implication was that she had a terminal M.Sc and not qualified for a straight Ph.D programme, and the consequences are to the effect that, now in her Ph.D programme, she’s unable to defend her packaged thesis.

 

They alleged further that

Mrs. Edokpa also failed her Comprehensive Ph.D. examination and the current Ag. Vice Chancellor while covering up her Academic Fraud and falsified B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees also gave an order to upgrade the failed courses without retaking the failed courses and also organized a defence for the student, which she also technically failed. They noted also that evidence has been submitted to the University administration but that it has failed to investigate it and the cover up continued, particularly by the

Ag. Vice Chancellor because according to them, he attends the same penticostal church (Gospel Outreach Ministry, Ekpoma.

 

Furthermore, anonymous report from the University community made available to TheNigeriaLawyer made it known that the said lecturer, Mrs. Edokpa is the wife of Prof. Waziri Edokpa, who was the former Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Council and a Professor in AAU as well as a church member to the current Ag. Vice Chancellor and Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor. Also, the inside information noted that one, Dr. Austin Aghemelo who was HOD when Mrs. Edokpa failed her Ph. D programme was being pressured to cover up the falsification and upon is refusal, he being accused by the Ag. Vice Chancellor for embezzlement of the school IGR for the purpose of sending him away.

 

Another letter addressed to the ICPC and the NUC made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, notified the commissions about the academic fraud and un-ethical practices of one Dr. Felix Okokhere, a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, calling for investigations and prosecutions. Accordingto to the letter, the lecturer, Dr. Felix Okokhere has been involved in several unethical and unprofessional practices in the Department. Evidence of instances were given thus:

External Examiner report on his delayed submission of 2015/2016 final year courses, where the reports from external examiner observed a high level of unethical practices in his grading. Another was the Departmental investigation on lower level results 2015/2016 academic session, 100 level (POS104), 200level (POS214), 300level (POS316) and 400level (POS405), where it was observed that the same practice of awarding different scores in scripts and final result recording sheet sent to the Department.

 

The letter noted further that inspite of the Departmental reports to the management on his unprofessional practice, Dr. Felix Okokhere seems to be enjoying the cover up of the management.