House of Representatives Approves 10-Year Security Protection for Investigative Journalist

The House of Representatives has granted a 10-year security protection to investigative journalist, Umar Audu, who exposed a widespread certificate racketeering scandal in the Benin Republic.

Audu’s undercover investigation revealed a syndicate that sells unearned university certificates to Nigerians, which are then fraudulently cleared by government agencies, including the Ministry of Education.

The joint House Committees on University, Polytechnic, Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Youth Development are currently investigating the scandal. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Abubakar Fulata, announced the House’s directive to provide security protection for Audu, citing the need to ensure his safety and well-being.

Fulata called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to provide the necessary support to ensure Audu’s safety for the next decade.

“We are grateful to Audu for his courage. We urge the Minister of the Interior to ensure that the Civil Defence provides the required support alongside the police,” Fulata said.

In his testimony before the committee, Audu detailed how he acquired a Benin Republic university degree without attending classes and had it cleared by the Ministry of Education for a fee of ₦40,000.

His exposé has sparked a national conversation about the authenticity of university degrees and the need for stricter measures to prevent certificate racketeering.