Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Jos, Plateau State — A court in Plateau State has sentenced two men to one‑and‑a‑half years in prison each for their role in a certificate forgery syndicate linked to the Federal University of Education, Pankshin, following a police‑led investigation that uncovered a disturbing pattern of falsified academic credentials.
The convictions were confirmed on Monday, 22 December 2025, when the acting Vice‑Chancellor of the university, Professor Jere Ndazhaga, announced the outcome at a press briefing in Jos, the state capital. The defendants — Friday Tunkyes from Mikang Local Government Area and Harvey Obed Ringsum from Mangu Local Government Area — were found guilty of forging and issuing fake academic certificates and results purporting to originate from the institution, a senior academic source said.
The elaborate scheme first came to light when university staff at the Examinations and Records Section flagged a suspicious certificate presented by an applicant whose results had not been uploaded to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal. Staff noted inconsistencies in the document, prompting an internal referral to the university’s security unit. A deeper review triggered by the complaint revealed the broader forgery operation.
University security personnel promptly alerted the Divisional Police Office in Pankshin, leading to formal involvement by the State Intelligence Department (SID) on 17 November 2025. An undercover operation launched the following day resulted in the arrest of Tunkyes, and a subsequent raid on 19 November 2025 yielded Ringsum’s detention. Investigators seized a cache of forged certificates for various academic qualifications, along with official‑look‑alike emboss stamps belonging to the institution, the Vice‑Chancellor said.
After their arrests, both men were charged, brought before a competent court and convicted following due legal process. Each received a custodial sentence of 18 months and was remanded to serve time at a correctional centre, according to the university statement.
The Vice‑Chancellor described the forgery ring as a “disturbing and unacceptable” assault on academic integrity and warned that the institution would not tolerate actions capable of tarnishing its reputation or undermining confidence in its qualifications. He urged employers, agencies and members of the public to verify certificates claimed to have been issued by the university to ensure authenticity.
Professor Ndazhaga emphasised that every genuine certificate issued by the Federal University of Education, Pankshin reflects years of rigorous study, discipline and character development. He said the convictions should serve as a deterrent to others contemplating similar fraudulent behaviour, highlighting that education credentials remain a cornerstone of personal and professional advancement in Nigeria’s competitive job market.
The university’s swift response was praised by education stakeholders, who called on other tertiary institutions to strengthen internal verification systems and collaborate closely with law enforcement to deter certificate fraud. Such practices, critics argue, degrade the value of legitimate qualifications and erode public trust in academic institutions.
Certificate forgery carries significant legal penalties under Nigerian law. The Criminal Code Act prohibits the making or use of false documents, including academic credentials, and offenders risk prison terms upon conviction. Legal analysts say convictions like those in Jos send a strong message that the justice system will hold perpetrators accountable.
The case also underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, where demand for credentials can sometimes create opportunities for unscrupulous individuals to exploit systemic gaps. University administrators and regulatory bodies have increasingly stressed the need for rigorous verification and digital authentication systems to safeguard academic records and prevent misuse.
As the sentences take effect, the Federal University of Education, Pankshin has reiterated its commitment to academic excellence and institutional integrity, vowing to continue working with security agencies to protect its community and the broader educational ecosystem. Academic leaders and civil society advocates hailed the imprisonment as a necessary step in preserving the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education qualifications.
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