Police Invite NSITF MD Over ‘Forged’ NYSC Certificate

By Idowu Isamotu

The police have summoned the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Michael Akabogu, over the alleged forgery of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, Daily Trust can confirm.

It was learnt that the NSITF boss, with discharge certificate number A030544, was invited by the police after a criminal complaint against him was forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Sunday Babaji.

The police, according to a source, wrote to the NYSC to demand clarifications on the certificate.

The NYSC, in a response letter with reference number NYSC/CCD/VER/10/S.1/VOL/07 to the police, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Trust, disowned Akabogu’s discharged certificate.

The December 5 letter addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Divisional Police Headquarters, Utako Division, FCT Command, Abuja, was signed on behalf of the NYSC Director General by the Acting Director Corps Certification, Ibrahim A.M.

It read in part, “Your letter Re: Case of forgery involving a Corps member, Akabogu 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.”

The spokeswoman of the Police in the FCT, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the invitation to Daily Trust in a telephone interview.

She said the commissioner of police had ordered a discreet investigation on the complaint.

She said, “We invited him, there was a letter of complaint to the commissioner of police by the NYSC. 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.”

Several calls placed to Akabogu were unanswered. He has yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report. But the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Fund, Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo, told our correspondent that she only heard about the issue as a rumour.

“Actually, this is not fund’s issue but I will still find out from the MD and give proper response,” she said.