The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions and Associated Institutions has called for the suspension of the acting Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Dr Chima Igwe, over the controversies surrounding his doctorate.

This is just as an anti-corruption group, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, has faulted the Ministry of Science and Technology for not taking appropriate action on the matter.

The groups’ reactions followed reports by The PUNCH on the controversial doctorate of Igwe, which he claimed he bagged from the Universite’ Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, in 2001.

With an attestation of registration, which he claimed was proof of his graduation; Igwe got several promotions and was recently appointed the acting director general of the agency.

However, ultimatums given to him to produce his PhD certificate ended without any result, as Igwe went further to swear to an affidavit before an Abuja High Court.

Investigations by our correspondent, however, revealed that the 57-year-old did not complete his studies as he claimed.

Officials of the university, who spoke with PUNCH Metro, denounced his claims, saying Igwe had yet to do his thesis defence, the final requirement for the attainment of a PhD.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, which had earlier cleared him of wrongdoing, backtracked on Tuesday, saying it had reopened investigation into the matter.

The SSAUTHRIAI Chairman, FIIRO branch, Togunde Mumeen, expressed disappointment in the ICPC for initially clearing Igwe based on the information it claimed it got from a sister agency.

Mumeen said it showed that the anti-graft agency did not conduct due diligence before clearing him.

He stated, “That action of the ICPC really generated serious agitation among members of staff of the institute and the public, because this is an issue of integrity. The ICPC should equally redeem its image by being thorough in its investigation, leveraging on the report of September 4, 2018, of The PUNCH, else the union will call for the investigation of the investigator.

“We want to inform the public that the union had earlier written to the institute’s board suggesting that it should commission the director of human resources to investigate the matter so as to unravel the true state of things, because the union’s image and the name of its leadership are at stake.”

https://punchng.com/groups-demand-fiiro-boss-suspension-nigerians-berate-minister/