Lagos Assembly Invites Commissioner, LASU VC, Others Over Alleged Certificate Racketeering

The Lagos State House of Assembly has resolved to invite the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Akibu, the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Senate of the tertiary institution and other top staff over allegations of extortion and certificate racketeering levelled against the school recently.

Naija News understands that this is coming after an investigation revealed that some officials of the institution allegedly sell certificates to willing buyers for as high as three million naira.

In a statement to Naija News on Tuesday, the Media Assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Eromosele Ebhomele, disclosed that the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa noted that the source of the story could be suspicious and not trustworthy because of its tendency to blackmail.

He, however, agreed that the concerned officials of the institution be invited so that facts about the allegation could be unearthed for the sake of the reputation of the school.

“I agree that the committee should invite those to be invited to establish facts about the allegation, but we must not because of that destroy our institution’s reputation,” Dr. Obasa, an alumnus of the institution said, adding that if anyone is found wanting, such a person should be sanctioned.

Moving the motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Owolabi Ajani told his colleagues that there was a need to invite the Commissioner, the VC and others for the House to unravel the facts behind the allegation.

Ajani noted that LASU had maintained a high level of integrity over the years adding that this must be sustained.

While Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh urged that the investigation should involve people in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit of the institution, Hon. Desmond Elliot and his colleague, Ladi Ajomale, who said they attended LASU, supported that the allegation be investigated.