Akabogu was accused of forgery by a whistleblower in a petition submitted to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The NSITF boss was accused in a police petition of displaying a fake NYSC Discharge Certificate with the number: A030544.

According to the petition, Akabogu claimed he was mobilised for the mandatory one-year national service under NO. OG/ FUTO/ 91/23402 for the first Batch from October 4, 1991 to October 2, 1992.

The Police have now summoned Akabogu over the allegation in a letter issued on December 8, 2022, and copied to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

The Police said it was investigating a case of a criminal complaint against the NSTIF boss, having been accused of forging his NYSC Discharge Certificate, which is attached to his Curriculum Vitae.

The letter reads, “The Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division FCT, Abuja is investigating a case of a criminal complaint in which your name featured prominently.

“In view of the above, it is requested that you should report to the above office on 12th December 2022, at approximately 11.00 hours in furtherance to the above complaint.

“This is a fact-finding mission and your presence is important.”

However, a Police source, who is privy to the matter, told LEADERSHIP that a discreet investigation was carried out upon the receipt of the petition against Akabogu.

He said, “When the petition was submitted, a crack team was raised to investigate the matter and subsequently a letter was written to the NYSC to confirm the authenticity of the Certificate. So he was invited for questioning on the strength of our findings.”

She said, “We invited him, there was a letter of complaint to the Commissioner of Police by the NYSC, so you know when they write such letters, the Police has to investigate, that was the essence of the invitation to come and explain, they said the Certificate is forged.”

This development comes months after Akabogu failed to justify a N17.158 billion expenditure, claiming that the documents containing proof of expenditure had been eaten up by termites.

Termites ate N17.1 billion vouchers inside a container in the NSITF’s office, according to the NSITF’s boss, who testified before the Senate Public Accounts Committee.

In 2013, the Senate Committee was looking into the illegal transfer of funds from First Bank and Skye Bank to personal accounts and corporations.

NYSC Reacts To NSITF Boss Discharge Certificate Forgery Allegation

The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has reacted to the allegations of Discharge Certificate Forgery levelled against Michael Akabogu, Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

The NYSC denied issuing Akabogu’s Certificate with Number: A030544 in a letter signed by the Acting Director of Corps Certification, Ibrahim A.M.

The letter was addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Divisional Police Headquarters, Nigeria Police Force, Utako Division, FCT Command, Abuja, with the reference number: NYSC/CCD/VER/10/S.1/VOL/07.

Ibrahim asserted that the NYSC did not issue the Certificate to the NSITF boss, and asked the Police to thoroughly investigate the matter.

The letter reads in part, “Your letter Re: Case of forgery involving a Corps member, Akabugu Michael C. with State Code No. OG/FUTO/91/23402

“Your letter Ref. No: CR:3000/FCT/UT/VOL.10/69 dated 3rd November 2022 on the above subject refers, please.

“I wish to inform you that the Certificate of National Service belonging to Akabugu Michael C with Certificate number: A030544 forwarded for verification was not issued by the NYSC.

“However, you are requested to retrieve the original Certificate for onward submission to the NYSC.”