Taraba commissioner under investigation over alleged fake foreign degree certificate




Joseph Joshua

Taraba State security services have been requested to look into claims that Joseph Joshua, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, received a degree from a Benin Republic university.

The request came after an internet publication revealed how simple it was for a reporter to graduate in six weeks from an African institution and then enlist in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The Federal Government was prompted by this to suspend the evaluation and accreditation of degree diplomas from Togo and the Benin Republic.

Dated January 15, 2024 and addressed to the Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Taraba State Command, Jalingo, the petition urged the security agencies to scrutinise the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Information Technology with Second Class (Upper Division) Joshua obtained in 2021.

In the process of his screening and confirmation as a Commissioner, the certificate was turned in to the Taraba House of Assembly.

The petitioner, Sulaiman Scatter of the Jalingo Local Council, claimed that the commissioner never went to the Benin Republic for studies.

He urged the agencies to investigate the number of visits, years covered and examine the international passport evidence of his claimed visits during the period of obtaining the said certificate.

When asked for an explanation, the commissioner only replied, “I have no comment.”Let the security to their job.”