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.
