NOUN suspends alumni election over certificate racketeering allegations

The National Open University of Nigeria has suspended activities of its Alumni Association, including an election scheduled for October 10, following allegations of certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities.
The decision was contained in a letter signed by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, after the allegations were considered at a meeting of the university management.

NOUN said petitions received by the institution raised concerns about the conduct of the leadership of the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association, known as NOUNAA. The Guardian Nigeria
The allegations include claims of certificate forgery and racketeering as well as questions about whether individuals who are not graduates of NOUN have participated in the association’s affairs.

Questions were also raised about the eligibility of some people to vote, contest elections or hold leadership positions within the alumni body.
The university stressed that the allegations have not been established as fact and said an impartial investigation would be required before conclusions are reached.

NOUN  subsequently suspended the election process and activities of the current executive committee at national, state and other levels pending the outcome of the investigation.

The institution also said a committee would investigate the allegations involving the association’s president, Ifeanyi Obukwelu, and other executive members.
However, Obukwelu has rejected the decision to halt the October 10 election.
The NOUNAA president argued that the association is independently incorporated and that its internal affairs are governed by its own constitution and applicable laws.

He said the association was not opposed to an investigation but maintained that those accused must be given the opportunity to defend themselves and should not be presumed guilty. The Guardian Nigeria
The disagreement therefore leaves the status of the scheduled alumni election contested between the university management and the association’s leadership