The management of Abia State University has reportedly suspended a lecturer in its Department of Mass Communication, Dr. KC Izuogo, over allegations of extortion, victimisation of students, and certificate forgery.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of alleged corruption and exploitative practices within some departments of the institution.
The allegations were amplified on Tuesday by education advocate Alex Onyia, who disclosed via his X account that investigations by the Abia State Government allegedly uncovered irregularities surrounding the lecturer’s academic credentials.
According to Onyia, the lecturer operated within the university system for years despite allegedly lacking a valid West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.
“This is Dr. KC Izuogo from Dept of Mass Communication at Abia State University,” Onyia wrote.
“He is very corrupt and wicked to students.
“Students must buy his handout for N5,000 and also sort the course with N20,000. If you don’t do it, you must fail the course.”
The activist further alleged that the lecturer possessed forged academic qualifications.
“Fake WAEC, Fake BSc, Fake PhD,” Onyia claimed, while alleging that the state government had intensified investigations into fake certificate holders within the university system.
“A lecturer without a WAEC certificate has been tormenting students for several years,” he stated.
“Abia State Government have intensified their investigations.
“All fake certificate holders will be fished out and suspended.
“All forms of sorting, victimisations, sex for grades, extortions will be addressed and stopped.”
He added that the government was determined to restore academic integrity and reposition the institution.
“By the time they are done, Abia State University will operate at the same quality level with that of top African universities,” Onyia said.
The latest controversy follows earlier reports of widespread extortion and alleged institutional corruption in parts of the university.
In April, students, parents, and insiders accused some lecturers in the Mass Communication and Electrical Engineering departments of operating what sources described as a “coordinated and institutionalised system of fleecing students.”
Sources alleged that students were compelled to purchase electronic handouts at inflated prices and pay unofficial fees before examination scripts could be marked.
According to the allegations, some lecturers charged as much as N6,000 for PDF handouts circulated through WhatsApp groups.
Students were also reportedly pressured to pay “sorting” fees of up to N20,000 after being accused of missing examinations or having untraceable scripts despite participating in the exams.
“The lecturers will collect money to mark scripts. This is not something hidden anymore — it is now a system students are expected to comply with,” one source had alleged.
Another source claimed the practice was especially rampant among 200-level students in the Mass Communication department.
“The lecturers tell the course reps to enforce collections and even add N200 per student as their own service charge,” the source alleged.
Concerned parents and residents have continued to express outrage over the situation, describing the alleged exploitation as unbearable amid worsening economic hardship.
A concerned indigene of Abia State reportedly described the development as “completely out of control,” warning that many students were being pushed into desperate situations just to survive academically.
