NANS President Benin Republic Urges Arrest of Undercover Reporter Exposing Certificate Racketeering

Ugochukwu Favour, the National Association of Nigerian Students President for Benin Republic, has called for the arrest of investigative reporter Umar Audu. Audu conducted an undercover exposé revealing corruption in the issuance of certificates within the country.

During an interview on Thursday on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, Favour criticized the reporter for obtaining certificates and having his passport stamped without being physically present. Favour highlighted Audu’s peculiar situation, stating, “Your passport was stamped while you were not available there. Now, and that aside, this guy served in 2019. And he still served again in 2023.”

Favour accused the reporter of implicating the government and casting doubt on the credibility of agencies such as the Immigration and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through his undercover activities. “He has to be arrested. This guy needs to be arrested because, I know, he’s a reporter who is trying to clear out some things, but on that note, you are trying to implicate some persons now because, in a sense, you’re trying to implicate the government, the NYSC, and the immigration,” he asserted.

In response to whether the reporter’s efforts exposed loopholes that should be addressed, the NANS president acknowledged the need for scrutiny but urged the government to take swift action, stating, “I’m not doubting that, but then since this is out already, I want to urge the government to look into it and take the necessary steps as fast as possible.”