The professor, who makes the SAN shortlist of 69 lawyers, was caught "cheating" in a postgraduate course examination and was suspended in 2016.

By Ameh Ejekwonyilo


A professor who was caught and later suspended for examination malpractices has made the short list of likely recipients of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank.

The rank is reserved for Nigerian lawyers who have distinguished themselves in legal practice, either in the advocacy or academic lines.

The integrity and reputation of the candidate is also a major factor for consideration for the award.

Benedicta Daudu, the dean of the Faculty of Law at the Taraba State University, was shortlisted alongside 68 other lawyers for the SAN award by the LPPC which is domiciled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES had extensively reported on how authorities of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, suspended Ms Daudu for one academic session after she was caught “cheating” in a postgraduate course examination.

Ms Daudu, an associate professor of law and head of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law of the Faculty of Law at UNIJOS, was caught cheating while taking an examination for a Master’s degree in Research and Public Policy in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the same university.

The development, after it was exposed by PREMIUM TIMES, earned her the sack from then President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Committee Advisory Committee on Corruption (PACAC) in May 2016.

Confirming her exit from PACAC, the Executive Secretary of the body, Bolaji Owasanoye, a law professor and now chairman of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, ICPC, had in a text message to this newspaper as then executive secretary of PACAC, said the committee discussed the allegation against Ms Daudu, and she “voluntarily” stepped down from the committee until the matter was resolved.

“The Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption has discussed the allegations against Dr Benedicta Daudu based on information in the public domain and Dr Benedicta Daudu has voluntarily stepped down from the committee until the matter is officially concluded by the university,” Mr Owasanoye wrote.

Ms Daudu, who was an associate law professor, was working towards another master’s in Research and Public Policy when she was caught in the examination malpractice scandal.

The Department of Research and Public Policy accused her of smuggling in prepared answers during the examination for the Global Context in Public Policy course.

Sources said the matter was subsequently reported to the university’s examination committee but some students and faculty claimed there were attempts at cover-ups by the university authorities.

Efforts by the university management to sanction Ms Daudu based on her position as a lecturer failed owing to a legal action she instituted against the varsity.

However, the university in December 2016, suspended her while trying to properly investigate the issue.

But it was later learnt that Ms Daudu and the UNIJOS management reached a settlement agreement, where she resigned her appointment and was paid off.

She, from there, left for the Taraba State University, where she became a professor in 2019.


Fierce test ahead

Ms Daudu may face another bumpy ride in her bid to clinch the SAN rank as the second stage of the process of selecting the candidates offers the public an opportunity to send petitions about shortlisted candidates.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hajo Bello, in a statement Thursday announcing the shortlisted candidates for the awards, invited members of the public “to comment on the integrity, reputation and competence” of the shortlisted candidates.

During the interview that will come up in October, shortlisted candidates will be confronted with complaints about their suitability for the rank.

The first stage of selection of SANs from a pool of applicants was more about ensuring that each candidate met the basic requirements such as having the records of the required number of High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court judgements.

The LPPC also conducts chamber inspections at the first stage of the selection process to ensure that candidates, especially lawyers working in private law firms, to ensure the law offices have the baseline facilities, libraries and financial records.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the LPPC, a body chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and established to give the prestigious rank to deserving lawyers annually is domiciled at the Supreme Court.

Ms Bello, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, doubles as the secretary of the LPPC.

Some of the shortlisted candidates include Fumi Falana and Kayode Ajulo, both human rights lawyers; Emmanuel Enoidem, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legal adviser; and Agada Elachi, erstwhile chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja branch.

There are 12 academics, including Ms Daudu on the list.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/625912-professor-caught-for-examination-fraud-makes-san-rank-shortlist.html

A new Sheriff is in town. He is corruption personified and promotes every corrupt things.

What do you expect!!!

Hasn't she suffered enough for this offence. She was suspended, she lost her political appointment. Abi do you prefer for her to be killed for this one offence

with my loud..

Her village people have remembered her again.
It's gonna be another long ride for her.

Illegitimacy is the new legitimacy

Ha

Enemies at work.

If you are doing the right thing, Nigeria is not for you

Ipob miscreants and pityobi people are working so hard to prove that Nigeria is a zoo, but I put it to them that Nigeria can never be a zoo... Nigeria is unique and prosperous to her good citizens... 🇳🇬❤️🇳🇬

Okay.

Na the way to become SAN be this now?

You are a good role model, students have been expelled for doing the same act, cheating is off-limit within the citadel of knowledge

OgbeniOja1:
Hasn't she suffered enough for this offence. She was suspended, she lost her political appointment. Abi do you prefer for her to be killed for this one offence

She has been forgiven

Ebola effect.
Only inspiration Nigerians draw from Ebola is to be a smart criminal and cover your criminal tracks.

Some of these Professors who are in the league of cheating spree are fond of fable and imaginary story like:"When I was a student like you I used you be the best"

Ageberocracy to the world!

The body is following the state of the head.

If you know you know.

Klington:
Illegitimacy is the new legitimacy

okay we don here, Can you please go to court... Or better rest... Nigeria's unity is sacrosanct... 🇳🇬❤️🇳🇬

This was what she did probably in her youthful age.

Imagine what cheating in examination has caused her; Removal from PACAC and now this argument over her promotion.

This is Nigeria.

No wonder Peter Obi refused to tender his Third-Class UNN certificate to INEC, he rather tendered GCE.
Better safe-facing

hmm

Na wao!

Who never cheat for exam before make he cast his stone!!!

Anyone??

Not justifying the act but most of you have done worst, even gone as far as buying result.

Nigeria is a huge joke. Character scrutinization prior to appointments or elections is not taken seriously. All that is required is - have money and have more money. It's not rocket science to find out why we are nowhere. The whole system reeks of nose-splitting rot.

OgbeniOja1:
Hasn't she suffered enough for this offence. She was suspended, she lost her political appointment. Abi do you prefer for her to be killed for this one offence

Do they consider this when they expel undergraduates for exam malpractice? A kid who still has his/her life ahead and many chances to change and become better is kicked out of school for one mistake, yet someone who is close to retirement, seen it all and probably served as member of countless exam malpractice panels in her work place is expected to be forgiven for thesame offence.

Klington:
Illegitimacy is the new legitimacy

Pls can we have the legitimate list too ? I want to compare and contrast to see if you are making sense and not just condemning .

Concerning the topic , this country still have a very long way to go oooo . 🤦‍♂️

I haven't.

Stop glorifying criminality because you think everyone do it

Blackestjunior:
Who never cheat for exam before make he cast his stone!!!

Anyone??

Not justifying the act but most of you have done worst, even gone as far as buying result.

quota academic. ordinary political science course you dey cheat

OgbeniOja1:
Hasn't she suffered enough for this offence. She was suspended, she lost her political appointment. Abi do you prefer for her to be killed for this one offence

God bless you jarey