The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr. Olaniran
Satiregun, the Founder and Rector of the International College of
Administration Science and Technology, Auta Balefi, Nasarawa State, for
offering fake and unaccredited degree courses.
Satiregun was first arraigned alongside the
institution in 2024 on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false
pretence, in violation of Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related
Offences Act, 2006.
During the trial, ICPC Prosecutor Mr. Adesina Raheem
presented evidence showing that the college deceived unsuspecting applicants
into enrolling in unapproved programmes between 2019 and 2021. The National
Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had only accredited the institution to run
four specific courses. Despite this, the college admitted students into
unapproved programmes such as Nursing, Public Health, and Computer Science.
One of the charges stated that Satiregun and the
college collected N110,000 from a student, Mr. Onmonya Daniel Ogah, under the
false promise of a three-year professional programme in Public Health/Nursing
Science. The college also falsely claimed the degree would be awarded in
partnership with a recognized international university, including professional
certifications from various bodies like CIA, CICN, NIMN, and ICAN.
Justice Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa of the Federal High Court
in Lafia found both defendants guilty on all counts. The judge sentenced
Satiregun to seven years in prison without the option of a fine and ordered
that all fees collected from students enrolled in the illegal programmes be
refunded.
Additionally, the court directed that the institution
immediately restrict its academic offerings to only the four courses approved
by the appropriate regulatory authority.
This ruling marks a significant step in the fight
against academic fraud and highlights the ICPC’s continued efforts to safeguard
the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system.
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