-
House clears Togo following Foreign Affairs Ministry input
-
Federal Ministry of Education summoned over Benin certificates
-
Probe follows 2024 dismissal of civil servants with Benin, Togo degrees
The House of Representatives has cleared the Republic of Togo of allegations that its universities issue fake degrees, but has fixed July 10, 2025, to investigate certificate racketeering claims involving the Benin Republic.
This follows formal correspondence received through diplomatic channels and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which exonerated Togo.
The development came during a hearing on Petition No: 445 of 2024, brought by Sovereign Legal Practitioners on behalf of stakeholders in the education sector, challenging a 2024 ministerial directive that disqualified degrees obtained from institutions in Benin and Togo.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Bitrus Kwamoti Laori, said the Federal Ministry of Education, which was invited to clarify its role in the directive, failed to attend the session.
The committee has now summoned the ministry to appear on July 10.
“Togo Republic was cleared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The only issue we have now is with the Benin Republic,” Hon. Laori stated.
“We will still serve the Federal Ministry of Education to give us clarifications on the pre-qualification examinations in Benin Republic. That’s what is holding back many students and graduates.”
The investigation gained national attention after the federal government dismissed dozens of civil servants in December 2024, citing unverifiable academic credentials from private universities in both Togo and Benin Republic.
READ ALSO: Celtic Stuns Manchester City in 4-3 Pre-Season Thriller
Further pressure was mounted after a Nigerian undercover journalist exposed a certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic, which reportedly sold degrees to Nigerian citizens without requiring proper academic coursework.
With Togo formally cleared, the focus of the House now shifts to the integrity of Benin Republic universities, especially as hundreds of Nigerian graduates face withheld certifications and job disqualifications.
The House committee has vowed to hold the Federal Ministry of Education accountable for its silence and inaction over the growing scandal.
