Management of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, said it would issue a statement on the alleged falsification of first degree by Senator Dino Melaye.
An online news portal, SaharaReporters, had in a report alleged that Melaye did not complete his first degree in Geography at ABU.
“Now, that brings me to the second matter. In the National Assembly, here in the Senate of the 4th Assembly, Enwerem was accused and it was also investigated.
“Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence had been set.
“Now, the second matter of privilege affects my colleague, Sheikh Dino Melaye, and it is in The Punch of today (Tuesday) on Page 10; I have the newspaper. In The Punch, it says, ‘Dino Melaye in first degree certificate scandal.’”
He added, “Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this Senate will stand as it is supposed to.”
However, the Information Officer of ABU, Mr. Adamu Muhammed, told Punch that the university would issue a formal statement on the status of Melaye on Wednesday (today).
He said, “We are gathering all the facts from the faculty and the department concerned and we will issue a press statement tomorrow (today).”
Inaction or deliberate stalling by the University’s management? This matter has attracted national and international interest so much so, that, given the wide publicity, the university would have impartially elucidated on the topic without it becoming a public contentious issue. As an institution of repute, a hint would have been from the Harvard controversy surrounding Dino’s claim to being a graduate. The determination, here, leads to ambiguity and opens up to ‘hidden’ interpretations. Does everything have to be ‘political’? Openness and transparency is the rule here and a broad spectrum has to contribute towards the change agenda.