Certificate scandal: See 5 key questions ABU VC failed to answer

– ABU VC, Prof Ibrahim Garba has said that senator Dino Melaye graduated from the institution with third class

– But the exam officers of the institution disagreed with the VC

– However, the VC failed to proffer answers to some of the questions raised by the senators

Embattled Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye was on Monday 27 cleared by Vice Chancellor, Ahamadu Bello University, Prof Ibrahim Garba on certificate and graduation controversies.

Prof Garba, while appearing before the Senate ethics committee on Monday said: “Yes, from records, Dino formerly known as Daniel Jonah Melaye graduated from the Ahmad Bello University with BA Geography.”

However, the ripples controversy has generated goes beyond ascertaining his studentship or graduation.

Below are 5 questions the VC failed to answer today:

1. How was Dino admitted into ABU without 5 ‘O’ level credits? Did he tender a result different from the one that surfaced online?
2. To study Geography, shouldn’t he have obtained a better result than P8 in the subject?
3. Why was Dino’s name given as ‘Daniel Jonah MELAYE’ in his statement of results; and ‘Melaiye Daniel Jonah O in the Senior School Certificate with which he was admitted?
4. How could Dino have participated in the national youth service in 1999 when he graduated in 2000?
5. Why is Dino’s certificate not yet issued 17 years after graduation?

NAIJ.com had earlier reported that ABU has since refused to confirm or deny Melaye’s graduation status saying it would await the outcome of a Senate investigation into the matter. Critics and opponents have accused Melaye of lying that he graduated from ABU and said he has no certificate to prove he graduated. The lawmaker has, however, insisted he graduated from the university, one of Nigeria’s oldest universities.

Meanwhile, during the hearing, the Chairman Senator Samuel Anyanwu, having put Dino Melaye on oath, explained that there was a complaint against him by a colleague, Senator Ali Ndume that he was parading a questionable degree certificate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

While responding, Dino having tendered series of documents to support that he was a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University explained that he has also sworn affidavit as to conflicts in his names. “Distinguished Senators, I have sworn affidavit to my name which reads, Daniel Jonah Melaye to Dino Melaye, because Jonah is actually my father’s name.” He added: “Because I have become popular with Dino over times, I have decided to bear Dino Melaye and you could see that my admission to study Masters degree bears Dino Melaye.” One of the members of the committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide noted that they could see statement of results with an affidavit and not the purported original degree from ABU.

In response, Dino said, he was yet to collect his original certificate, adding that collection of certificates is usually at any body’s convenience. He revealed that he was ready to collect the original certificate within the week.