Stakeholder Petitions ICPC Over Appointment of Kwara College of Education Registrar

Stakeholder Petitions ICPC Over Appointment of Kwara College of Education Registrar

A stakeholder, Mr. Yusuf Sharafadeen, has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), requesting an investigation into the appointment and continued tenure of Mr. Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi as Registrar of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

The petition, dated July 15, 2026, and obtained by NupekoTV-Lafiagi, was addressed to the Chairman of the ICPC and copied to relevant authorities.

Sharafadeen is seeking clarification on whether Abdullahi met the academic requirements stipulated for the position when the College advertised the vacancy in 2021.

According to the petition, the College advertised vacancies for Registrar and Bursar in The Nation newspaper on June 30, 2021. The stated requirement for the Registrar position included a “good Honours First Degree from a recognised institution of higher learning plus relevant Master's Degree.”

The petitioner alleged that Abdullahi's qualification at the time was a Higher Diploma in Public Administration, which he reportedly obtained from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, in 1996.

He further alleged that the programme was an internal programme for local government workers and questioned its accreditation status and whether it qualified as an NYSC-oriented qualification.

Concerns Over Selection Process

The petition also raised questions concerning the process that led to Abdullahi's appointment.

Sharafadeen alleged that Mr. Ambali Ajape Abdullahi emerged first in an interview conducted by the College's Governing Council but was not subsequently appointed following concerns over his inability to produce the original certificate of his Master's Degree in Public Administration, which he reportedly claimed to have obtained from the University of Ilorin.

The petitioner said some members of the Governing Council proposed giving Ambali additional time to produce the certificate or obtain confirmation from the University of Ilorin.

He alleged that the then Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Ruben Iye, subsequently stated that the Governor had directed that a candidate without a First Degree should be appointed.

According to the petition, Abdullahi was subsequently issued an appointment letter.

Previous Petition and Investigation

The petitioner said Ambali later raised concerns about Abdullahi's qualifications after discovering his profile on the College's website.

According to Sharafadeen, Ambali petitioned the Kwara State Ministry of Tertiary Education on May 17, 2022, following which an investigative committee was constituted to examine the matter.

The petitioner alleged that the committee contacted Kwara State Polytechnic to verify Abdullahi's qualification and that the institution reportedly provided information concerning the accreditation and status of the programme.

Sharafadeen further claimed that the committee submitted its report to the Visitor of the College, the Kwara State Governor, and recommended Abdullahi's removal, as well as a fresh recruitment process for the position.

He alleged that the recommendations were not implemented and that Abdullahi remained in office.

ICPC Asked to Verify Qualifications

The petition also requested the ICPC to examine a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Administration allegedly obtained by Abdullahi from Bayero University, Kano, in 2008.

The petitioner asked the commission to determine whether the qualification used for admission into the Master's programme met the university's requirements at the time.

Among the requests contained in the petition, Sharafadeen wants the ICPC to verify Abdullahi's academic qualifications, examine the circumstances surrounding his appointment and determine whether the relevant recruitment requirements were followed.

He also asked the commission to establish whether any public funds were improperly paid as salaries and allowances if it determines that Abdullahi was not qualified for the position.

The petitioner further requested that the ICPC obtain the report of the investigative committee constituted by the Ministry of Tertiary Education following the 2022 petition and take any appropriate action based on its findings.

The petition is a request for investigation, and the allegations contained in it have not been independently established. The affected individuals and relevant authorities have the opportunity to respond to the claims.