By Chuwang Dungs, Jalingo

The integrity of the Taraba State University (TSU) Jalingo, Taraba State is at stake following stories going round that over 2000 staff and students are allegely involved in money for grades scandal.

Although during a telephone chat with our Correspondent, the head of information and protocol unit of the university, Sanusi Sa’ad, described the allegation as “mere social media rumour.”

Sa’ad who appealed to The EYEWITNESS to be patient, saying they don’t give much credit to social media rumours. He said the university authority is looking at the matter and if anything of that nature exists or not, it would invite the press to either confirm or counter the rumour.

However, further investigation by The EYEWITNESS revealed that the university is actually rocking in the scandal but the management is doing everything possible to manage the situation because some high profile and influential staff are involved in the act and to also “save” the image of the institution considering the alarming number of those involved.

Our Correspondent also gathered that the the management of the university is also managing the matter in order not to destroy the reputation of I-Focus, the consultancy firm managing the school’s examination website.

Our source revealed that I-Focus, which is being paid N20 million annually, despite the financial challenges of the university is the third party managing the school examination site.

“I am very sure our management is not willing to talk on the matter because of I-Focus, they are doing everything possible to protect the reputation of the organization considering the alarming rate of the issue at stake.”

He also disclosed that a committee has been set up to look into the matter, stressing that the university’s academic staff union, will ensure that the matter is being followed to logical conclusion.

“ASUU is very worried over the matter which has a devastating effect on the image of the university, we will not allow it to go like that, we know they are doing all this manipulation to protect the image of I-Focus, because we have always kicked against the university bringing a third party to handle our examination issues.” He said.

A senior staff of the university and former official of the Academic Staff Union of the institution who disclosed the development to our correspondent said, the scam was uncovered when a student in the department of biology, who has spent 6 years studying without graduating  brought his Dad to solicit for assistance to enable him graduate.

He said upon visiting the student platform on the website to ascertain his problem, it was discovered that the student in question had no carry over and his grades were satisfactory, which means that there must be something shady.

He said it was as a result of this very discovery by the school examination office, that the head of the university ICT unit, Mr. Kafwa Dodo insisted that the entire system be scrutinized and in so doing many other similar cases were unravelled and the scammers used Dodo’s secret passcode to accessed the website to commit the fraud.

Our source said contrary to stories going round that the director of the unit, Mr. Dodo was arrested by the DSS, he said Dodo rather wrote to the DSS informing them of the scam in the school and urged them to do a thorough investigation.

“On discovering that his passcode was used by the scammers, the ICT director personnally, compiled the names of all suspected students, which I cannot ascertain the number but I learnt is over a thousand plus or so and submitted the list to the DSS, again I learn he is still the same person picking some of the students to the DSS office for interrogation. I think if he is involved he wouldn’t have gone to that extent, I think there are some forces that want to use him as a scapegoat to cover the reputation of I-Focus due to maybe their interest in the organization.”

“A committee had been set up and I learn many people have been pick up by the DSS, especially students for questioning based on the information given to them by the ICT unit.”

He said although the investigation still ongoing, but from available facts, it shows that some staff of the ICT unit or the consulting firm, some lecturers and even staff from other departments have been operating a syndicated obtaining money from students in exchange for higher scores in their examination result and wrongful graduation.

He said the students are being awarded the grades based on their financial offer, but in most cases those with lower class are being upgraded to upper class.

“In most of the cases uncovered those students that scored lower grades are being awarded upper grades, like some that scored 2:2 were awarded 2:1 and it affects almost all the graduating class.”

While some with carry overs are being awarded scores after greasing the palms of the scammers or hackers.

He said there are many of the university graduates who are now working in different institutions across the country and even in the state with fraudulent certificates from the institution.

He then appealed to the school authority to thoroughly investigate the matter punish whosoever is involved, no matter how highly place, to safe the image of the school.

“Hiding the matter will not help the image of the university, especially now that the issue has gone virile with different versions of it, even the reputation of some innocent persons is being destroyed. The university authority should come out and say the truth and the next line of action this will help in settling all the lies going round.”

According to him if this is done it will restore sanity to the institution and give hope to those students who can’t afford to offer money for grades.
The
EYEWITNESS further confirmed from some insiders that some high profile staff are also involved in the scam and they are doing everything possible to see that they matter is sweep under the carpet.

An insider said that there are serious attempts to ensure that the evidence don’t go public by some university officials and some vested interest outside the university community.

“Many high profile academic and non academic staff are involved in the act which is contrary to university regulations and they are doing everything possible to see that the issue is buried.”

He said it is believed that some of them took advantage of their position to have altered the scores of students who could pay for higher marks while some perpetrated the act in favour of their friends, relatives and some in exchange for sex.

A student unionist of the university, who also spoke to The EYEWITNESS on the issue, said the leadership of the student body was fully in the picture of the fraud for marks in exchange for money or sex but their hands are tight due to the involvement of some high profile persons, including some members of the student union.

He said “we are aware of the discovery and the overwhelming evidences to prove the findings, we are also aware of the efforts being put in place to cover the act due to those said to be involved in the scam.”

“We learnt that they are trying to kill and bury the issue under the guise of saving the reputation of the university.” He said.

Though with different versions, 8 in 10 of the students that Eyewitness further spoke with also confirmed the ugly situation that has bedevilled the institution, only two said they are not aware because they are not involve in malpractice.

One of the student said, “on many occasions, during lecture sessions some lecturers who are believed to be
upright have expressed their anger and frustration over the fraud going on in the school.”

She said there are instances whereby  lecturers will discover students with carry over in their courses graduating with “good grades” without repeating the course.

All efforts to speak with officials of I-Focus, as at the time of publishing this report proved abortive.