By Ovat Abeng
Concerned members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State have dragged the factional chairman-elect, Mr. Augustine Akubue, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for alleged impersonation.
In a petition submitted through their lawyer, T. M. Ozioko, Esq, of the Chambers of M.J Teryma and Associates Legal Practitioners, Abuja, the petitioners represented by Comrade Chika Idoko, former ADC Senatorial Candidate in Enugu North senatorial district, asked the commission to investigate Akubue for parading himself as a professor, without being a bonafide academic staff member of any recognised university in Nigeria or abroad.
The petition dated April 21, 2026 and copied to the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), was received and certified by the Office of the Hon. Chairman of ICPC on April 23, 2026.
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It was titled, “Petition to Investigate Mr. Augustine Akubue for False Claim of Professorial Status, Fictitious Inaugural Lecture, and Attempt to Mislead the Public.”
The petition read in part: “We are solicitors to the Concerned Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) represented by Comrade Chika Idoko (hereinafter referred to as “Our Clients”), on whose instruction, we write the petition. Our clients have briefed us and we verily believe them, as follows:
“That one Mr. Augustine Akubue (hereinafter refered to as “the Suspect”) has for some time publicly held himself out as “Professor Augustine Akubue”.
“That upon diligent inquiry, our clients have verified that the suspect is not a bonafide academic staff member of any recognised university in Nigeria or abroad. He has never been appointed to the rank of Professor (or any academic rank whatsoever) by the Governing Council of any tertiary institution.
“That as part of a fraudulent scheme to gain public trust and mislead unsuspecting victims, the suspect falsely claimed to have ‘delivered an inaugural lecture’-an academic ceremony, which only a duly appointed Professor of a recognised university is entitled to perform.
“That no record exists of any such inaugural lecture in any university’s academic calendar, official gazette or digital repository. The suspect, fabricated the title, date and venue of the purported lecture, solely to create an aura of academic legitimacy for fraudulent purposes.”
Stating further, the petitioners alleged that the suspect used the fabricated identity of “professor” and fictional “inaugural lecture” as a calculated ploy to present himself as a credible authority in order to secure political office, thereby, attempting to defraud political minded people, agencies, and the electorate.
Evidence adduced in support of the petition include a suspension notice from the suspect’s hometown association of professors, screenshots, audio or video recordings where the suspect referenced his “inaugural lecture” as proof of his academic standing, and witness statement from individuals who relied upon the suspect’s false academic status.
According to the petitioners, the suspect is reasonably believed to have committed personation/impersonation, contrary to Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and forgery, contrary to Section 363 of the Criminal Code Act.
Consequently, the petitioners prayed the commission to investigate the suspect’s true educational qualifications and employment status, and invite and interrogate the suspect, regarding his claim of being a professor and the alleged inaugural lecture.
They also prayed the commission to liaise with the NUC to obtain the official certification of the suspect’s academic status or lack thereof, and prosecute the suspect for impersonation and obtaining under false pretenses, if the evidence so warrants.
Finally, the petitioners, prayed the ICPC to issue a public alert to warn citizens and political parties against engaging the suspect as a professor or academic consultant.
The petition is coming days after documentary evidence from court revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State charged Akubue, a protégé of former Enugu State Governor, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, before an Enugu Magistrate Court in 2023 on a two-count charge of forgery.
