The Taraba State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon Joseph Joshua, has asserted that his academic credentials obtained from ESGT University in Benin Republic (Cotonou) were not acquired fraudulently. He stated that although his lawyers would respond to the allegations regarding his BSc qualification from ESGT University, it is incorrect to label his certificate as fraudulent based solely on a news report.
In response to a petitioner’s request for security agencies to investigate the authenticity of his degree, Joseph Joshua maintained that his qualifications are legitimate and authenticated by the Federal Ministry of Education. He emphasized that the discovery of fraudulent activities involving one individual does not taint the credibility of all certificates issued by the institution.
[blockquote align=”left” author=”Penci Design” style=”font-size: 30px”]To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it?[/blockquote]
The petitioner, Sulaiman Adamu Scatter, raised concerns about the Commissioner’s academic background, alleging that there is no evidence of him studying in Benin Republic. The petitioner urged authorities to scrutinize Joshua’s travel records, particularly his international passport, to verify his claims.
The petition stemmed from a report exposing the ease with which a reporter obtained a degree from an African university within a short period and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. This revelation led to the suspension of the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo by the Federal Government.
However, the Taraba Youths Movement denounced the petition, labeling it as an attempt to tarnish the Commissioner’s reputation for personal gain. The group’s leader, Aminu Shuaib Baba, asserted that targeting individuals based on unsubstantiated claims undermines the integrity of young people striving for success. He urged security agencies to conduct impartial investigations and cautioned against using petitions to undermine the progress of youth leaders.
The Commissioner and his supporters maintain his innocence and call for a fair and thorough investigation to uncover the truth, while condemning any attempts to unjustly discredit him for political or personal motives
