ABU to release statement on Dino Melaye's certificate scandal today

- Dino Melaye, the senator representing a district in Kogi state, is facing a tough time and doing everything possible to defend himself

- With his colleagues commencing an investigation into his alleged certificate scandal, ABU has indicated it would respond

The management of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna state has said it would issue a statement to either confirm or deny Senator Dino Melaye’s claim of being a graduate of geography from the institution.

This is as the Senate commenced investigation into his certificate scandal after a point of order was raised by former majority leader, Ali Ndume, on Tuesday, March 21.

The Punch reports that the information officer of ABU, Mr Adamu Muhammed, confirmed that the university would issue a formal statement on the status of Melaye on Wednesday, March 22.

READ ALSO: Dino Melaye did not get a degree from Harvard - Report

“We are gathering all the facts from the faculty and the department concern and we will issue a press statement tomorrow (today),” he reportedly said.

SaharaReporters had broken the news that Melaye did not complete his first degree and that he allegedly bribed his way through.

On the floor of the Senate, Ndume told his colleagues: “In the National Assembly, here in the Senate of the fourth Assembly, Enwerem was accused and it was also investigated. Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined.

“So, a lot of precedence had been set. Now, the second matter of privilege affects my colleague, Sheikh Dino Melaye, and it is in The Punch of today (Tuesday) on Page 10; I have the newspaper. In The Punch, it says, ‘Dino Melaye in first degree certificate scandal’.

“Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this Senate will stand as it is supposed to.”

The matter was referred to the committee on ethics by the deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary.

In his reaction, Melaye who is a member of the committee, said: “I’m here to respond to the issue raised by the … senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ali Ndume.

"I want to say, to me, it is a welcome development. Democracy is about investigation and no senator is above investigation. To me, it is a welcome development and it will finally clear the air on all the malicious and vindictive allegations.

READ ALSO: Senator Dino Melaye in certificate scandal

“To say that I did not graduate from ABU is to say that I am not a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“ABU is a very prestigious university in this country and it is not possible for one to be running a Master’s programme in the university when one did not graduate from a university. I have successfully completed one and I am doing the second one.

“I want to announce that this is the eighth degree that I am pursuing. I am also a graduate of the University of Abuja, where I did Master’s in Policy Analysis.

“I am a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science. I am also a graduate of Harvard University. The course I am pursuing now will make it my eighth degree.

“I have my admission letters, results, certificate of discharge from ABU. Not only that, I was the Student Union Government President of ABU. On three occasions, I was the most popular student on campus.”

Some Nigerians who reacted, expressed sympathy for Melaye with some saying the controversy could end in his favour.

Source: Legit.ng