By Samuel Ogunsona
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi in Lagos has been
commended for responding to public outcry following the controversy that
trailed the suspicious Ph.D certificate said to have been acquired by
the institute’s former Acting Director General, Igwe.
In a statement on Wednesday signed by its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju
Suraju, and made available to Irohinoodua, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource
Centre) said FIIRO has met the expectation of the public by appointing a
new Acting Director General in the face of raging controversy over the
reputation of the institution’s former boss.
“We commend the action of FIIRO Board of Directors and the staff for
saving the institute from international embarrassment. The appointing of
a new Acting DG was long overdue but never too late. We commend FIIRO
for responding to HEDA’s demand and the staff for standing up to justice
and the rule of all,” HEDA stated
The acclaimed anti-corruption group had led a blitzkrieg of campaigns
for sanity in FIIRO after its former DG was found to have acquired a
questionable Ph.D.
HEDA had also raised eyebrows over corrupt malpractices linked to the
former DG.
FIIRO in a letter dated February 11, 2020 had appointed Dr (Mrs) Agnes
Asagbra as the new Acting General and Chief Executive Officer of the
research Institute.
She would oversee the activities of the institute pending the
appointment of a substantive DG.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Ibrahim Dan Azumi Gwarzo
had issued a letter appointing Asgbara as the Acting DG.
HEDA said while it commended FIIRO for the appointment of the Acting
DG, the corruption cases levelled against Igwe must not be swept under
the carpet.
“We are glad that the first bridge has been crossed. What remains now is
the prosecution of Igwe to ascertain the veracity of the cases of gross
abuse of office and corruption levelled against him. His removal is a
good development but the issues of fraudulent claims and corruption has
to be pursued to its logical and logical conclusion for the sake of
posterity,” HEDA stated
Ultimately demanding prosecution of Igwe by icpc for fraud and obtaining
by false pretense.