The Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr. Michael Akabogu, has been accused of forging his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate.
Akabogu was accused of forgery by a whistleblower in a petition forwarded to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
In the petition to the Police, the NSITF boss was accused of allegedly parading a fake NYSC Discharge Certificate with the Number: A030544.
According to the petition, Akabogu claimed he was mobilised for the compulsory one-year national service, vide NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402 for the first Batch, from October 4, 1991, to October 2, 1992.
He was subsequently summoned over the allegation in a letter issued on December 8, 2022, and copied to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
The Police said it was investigating a case of a criminal complaint against the NSTIF boss, having been accused of forging his NYSC Discharge Certificate, which is attached to his Curriculum Vitae.
The letter reads, “The Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division FCT, Abuja is investigating a case of a criminal complaint in which your name featured prominently.
“In view of the above, it is requested that you should report to the above office on 12th December 2022, at approximately 11.00 hours in furtherance to the above complaint.
“This is a fact-finding mission and your presence is important.”
The Police source, who is privy to the matter, told LEADERSHIP newspaper that a discreet investigation was carried out upon the receipt of the petition against Akabogu.
He said, “When the petition was submitted, a crack team was raised to investigate the matter and subsequently a letter was written to the NYSC to confirm the authenticity of the Certificate. So he was invited for questioning on the strength of our findings.”
Confirming the Police invitation, the spokesperson of the FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, said the Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, ordered a discreet investigation of the complaint.
She said, “We invited him, there was a letter of complaint to the Commissioner of Police by the NYSC, so you know when they write such letters, the Police has to investigate, that was the essence of the invitation to come and explain, they said the Certificate is forged.”
The development comes months after Akabogu failed to justify spending the sum of N17.158 billion, alleging that the documents containing proof of expenditure had been eaten up by termites.
The NSITF boss told the Senate Public Account Committee that termites ate N17.1 billion vouchers inside a container in their office.
The Senate committee was investigating the illegal transfer of the sum from First Bank and Skye Bank to personal accounts and companies in 2013.