The Federal University of Education (FUE), Pankshin, Plateau State, has uncovered a syndicate involved in the forgery and issuance of fake academic results and certificates, resulting in the imprisonment of two men.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jere Ndazhaga, disclosed this on Monday at a press briefing, where he confirmed that the convicts, Friday Tunkyes and Harvey Ringsum, were each sentenced to one and a half years in prison.
According to Ndazhaga, the fraud was exposed after a suspicious certificate was submitted to the university’s Examinations and Records Section.
The document raised red flags, prompting an internal review that led to wider investigations.
The probe, he said, uncovered several forged certificates and official emboss stamps allegedly used to pass off fake academic documents as products of the defunct Federal College of Education, Pankshin.
“I have been overseeing the affairs of the institution for the past four months.
“It is important to state clearly that the university recently uncovered the nefarious activities of a syndicate specialising in forging, faking, and altering academic results and issuing them as though they were from the defunct Federal College of Education, Pankshin.”
“This development is both disturbing and unacceptable to the university management,” he said.
Ndazhaga explained that the matter came to light when an individual complained that a certificate presented at the Examinations and Records Section had not been uploaded on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal.
He noted that due to the vigilance and professionalism of the staff on duty, inconsistencies were immediately detected and reported to the University Security Unit, which in turn liaised with the Divisional Police Office in Pankshin.
He further revealed that the case was formally reported to the State Intelligence Department on Monday, November 17, 2025, around 4:30pm, following credible intelligence that criminal elements were producing fake results and certificates in the name of the university.
Subsequent undercover security operations led to the arrest of Friday Tunkyes of Mikang Local Government Area on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
“This arrest further resulted in the apprehension of another suspect, Mr. Harvey Obed Ringsum of Mangu Local Government Area, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
“During the operation, numerous forged certificates of various academic qualifications, as well as official emboss stamps of the institution, were recovered from the suspects,” he said.
Ndazhaga said the suspects were arraigned, tried and convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction, after which they were sentenced to one and a half years’ imprisonment each. He added that they are currently serving their terms at a correctional facility.
“This development is both disturbing and unacceptable to the university management.
This action is intended to serve as a strong deterrent to others who may contemplate similar criminal acts,” he said.
The vice-chancellor urged organisations and employers to always verify certificates purportedly issued by the university, stressing that “there is no shortcut to knowledge” and that the institution remains committed to academic integrity.
He also appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious activities capable of undermining the education sector, noting that collective vigilance is essential to safeguarding the credibility of tertiary institutions.
“The motto of the Federal University of Education, Pankshin, is ‘Excellence in Service.’ Every genuine certificate issued by this institution represents years of rigorous academic training, character formation, and integrity.
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“We will not tolerate any act capable of tarnishing the image of the university or undermining the value of education,” the VC added.
