Michael Akabogu, the managing director and chief executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, has been fired by President Muhammadu Buhari (NSITF).
According to people familiar with the situation, Akabogu was fired because of his alleged falsification of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate.
An internal memo bearing the signature of the organization’s Executive Director of Operations, Gabriel Iwelunmor, informed him of his dismissal.
The letter states, “I am thus directed to advise you that Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari has directed the removal from office of Dr. Michael Akabogu as the Managing Director/CE of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) with effect from Friday, 3rd February 2023.”
“Therefore, it has been ordered that the Executive Director Administration of the Fund, Barr. (Mrs.) Maureen Allagoa, take control of the Fund’s affairs.
Additionally, the staff of your various Departments/Units, Regions, and Branches should be informed of this information.
In a 2022 complaint to the police, a whistleblower claimed that the fired NSITF boss was flaunting a phony NYSC Discharge Certificate with the number: A030544.
After the NYSC authority denied issuing the bogus NYSC release document, the police then invited Akabogu for an interview.
He had stated that between the fourth of October 1991 and the third of October 1992, he had been mobilized for the required one-year service, per NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402.
In contrast to Akabogu’s claims that he was mobilized for the first batch between October 4 and October 3, 1992, an investigation revealed that Akabogu’s discharge NYSC certificate, bearing the number A030544, was allegedly forged. The first batch of 1991 corps members were also discharged/passed out on September 15, 1992, not September 16.
In the interim, The Police had issued an invitation letter on December 8, 2022, and copied
and stated that it was looking into a criminal complaint against Akabogu, copying the Minister of Labor and Employment.
The letter stated that the Nigeria Police Force’s Utako Division in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja was looking into a criminal complaint in which your name was prominently mentioned.
“In light of the foregoing, it is desired that you report to the aforementioned office on December 12, 2022, at around 11:00am in order to advance the foregoing complaint.
Your attendance is crucial for our fact-finding mission, so please be here.
A police source with knowledge of the situation told our correspondent that after receiving the petition against Akabogu, a covert investigation was conducted.
When the petition was submitted, he claimed, “a crack team was assembled to look into the situation, and a letter was subsequently sent to the NYSC to request confirmation of the Certificate’s legitimacy. He was then asked to testify regarding the validity of our findings.
Additional information revealed that the supposed parade of the NYSC Certificate with Number: A030544 was not authorized by the National Youth Service Corps, despite what the NSITF chairman reportedly paraded (NYSC).
NYSC stated that it did not issue the Certificate in a letter of response with reference number: NYSC/CCD/VER/10/S.1/VOL/07 that was sent to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Divisional Police Headquarters, Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division, FCT Command, Abuja.
The letter is addressed to “your letter Re: Case of forgery involving a Corps member, Akabugu Michael C. with State Code No. OG/FUTO/91/23402,” and is signed by Ibrahim A.M., the Acting Director of Corps Certification.
Please refer to your letter with reference number CR:3000/FCT/UT/VOL.10/69 dated November 3, 2022, on the aforementioned matter.
“I want to let you know that the NYSC did not issue the Certificate of National Service that belongs to Akabugu Michael C and was forwarded for verification with the Certificate number: A030544.
The actual Certificate must be obtained, nevertheless, in order to submit it to the NYSC.
The FCT Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the police invitation and stated that Sunday Babaji, the commissioner of police, had ordered a covert inquiry into the accusation.
We invited him, there was a, she said. “We invited him,” I continued, “because there was a letter of complaint from the NYSC to the Commissioner of Police. As you know, when they submit such letters, the Police has to look into it.
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