Reps Approve 10-Year Protection For Journalist Who Exposed Fake Degrees In Benin Republic

The House of Representatives has approved a 10-year security arrangement for investigative journalist Umar Audu, following his revealing report on the widespread certificate racketeering in the Benin Republic.

Audu’s undercover investigation exposed a network that sells fraudulent university degrees to Nigerians—many of which are later illegitimately verified by government bodies, including the Ministry of Education.

The scandal is currently under investigation by a coalition of House Committees on University Education, Polytechnic Education, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Youth Development.

Rep. Abubakar Fulata, who chairs the Committee, announced the directive and urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other relevant security agencies to ensure Audu’s protection throughout the 10-year period.

“We are grateful to Audu for his courage. We urge the Minister of the Interior to ensure that the Civil Defence provides the required support alongside the police,” Fulata said.

In his testimony before the committee, Umar Audu described how he obtained a university degree from the Benin Republic without attending any classes and successfully had it verified by the Ministry of Education after paying a ₦40,000 fee.