The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, has demoted a former acting director-general of the agency, Chima Igwe, over a PhD document scandal

After sitting over Igwe’s case, the governing board ratified the recommendations of the disciplinary committee, and asked Igwe to revert to principal research officer, the position he held before claiming to have bagged a doctorate from the Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, over 18 years ago.

The first class graduate of Chemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, had finished with a pass during his master’s at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

He subsequently proceeded to the Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, where he claimed to have bagged a doctorate in 2001.

However, he could only produce an attestation document for the PhD, signed by his supervisor, Prof. Mansour Moudachirou.

On the basis of that document, he was promoted from principal research officer to chief research officer, deputy director and director.

The attestation document however became a subject of controversy in 2019, when the tenure of the former DG, Prof. Gloria Elemo, ended and Igwe was made the acting DG.

An official petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, seeking a probe of Igwe’s PhD.

Speaking to newsmen over the weekend, ICPC spokeswoman, Rasheedat Okoduwa, confirmed that the Igwe did not have a PhD yet.