Togo Cleared of Fake Degree Allegations as Reps Set July 10 to Investigate Benin

The House of Representatives, acting on intelligence received through diplomatic sources in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has cleared the Republic of Togo of accusations that its universities issue fake academic certificates. However, the House has fixed July 10, 2025, to investigate universities in the Benin Republic.

The Federal Ministry of Education has also been summoned to appear and provide testimony on the matter.

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Bitrus Kwamoti Laori, made this known in Abuja during deliberations on Petition No. 445 of 2024. The petition, filed by Sovereign Legal Practitioners on behalf of Stakeholders in Education, was directed at the Federal Ministry of Education over the Minister’s statement concerning fake degrees from institutions in the Republics of Benin and Togo.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the committee responded to a request from the petitioners’ counsel, who was unable to attend due to health reasons. The chairman explained that the case involving Togo had been resolved, while issues concerning the Benin Republic were still outstanding. He announced July 10, 2025, as the new date for the continuation of the hearing.

The Federal Ministry of Education did not send a representative to the session.

The chairman stated, “Petitioners, we have a letter from your counsel, who is indisposed, asking that this matter be adjourned to the 10th of July, 2025. And this matter was earlier fixed for today for the Federal Ministry of Education to come and clarify the implementation of the 2024 directive on qualifying exams.”

He continued, “Also, with the earlier response we have from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the issue we have is with Benin Republic and not Togo. Of course, Togo Republic was cleared by the Ministry (Foreign Affairs). The only issue we have now is Benin Republic.”

In his ruling, the chairman stated, “Following the letter from your counsel, this matter is adjourned to the 10th of July. And we will still serve the Federal Ministry of Education to come and give us clarifications on the pre-qualification examinations in Benin Republic. That’s the issue that’s holding a lot of students and other graduands from Benin Republic. So, Togo has no issue, it is only Benin.”

It is worth recalling that in December 2024, the federal government dismissed certain civil servants who obtained degrees from private institutions in Benin Republic and Togo. This affected those who graduated between 2017 and the present.

In a related development, the House is currently probing a report by an undercover journalist who exposed a syndicate in the Benin Republic that sells degrees to Nigerian buyers.