The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna says it has dismissed a member of staff, Rilwanu Sanusi over an admission scam. The Registrar, Col. Henry Ayamasaowei, told
newsmen in Kaduna that Sanusi, a Principal Technical Officer with the institution, was allegedly involved in an examination scam during the recently concluded exercise for 63rd Regular Course intake.
He said the dismissed official allegedly, fraudulently demanded and received N1 million from one Alhaji Suaibu Ibrahim under he pretext of securing admission for two of his wards into the academy.
The Public Relations Officer, Col. Nwachuckwu Onyema, spoke on behalf the registrar.
According to him, upon the release of the entrance examination results in May, two of
Ibrahim’s wards, who sat for the exam were not successful.
“Therefore, Ibrahim’s wife, Farida Shauibu visited the academy’s registrar to solicit assistance for admission of the wards.
“Sanusi was present in the registrar’s office on that day. Mrs Shuaibu left the office after being told by the registrar that the request was not feasible.’’
However, she said that she was accosted thereafter by Sanusi outside the registrar’s office, who promised to see her and “there and then’’ the duo
exchanged telephone numbers.
According to the Registrar, Sanusi advised Mrs Shuibu during the second meeting to obtain written note from either the Emir of Zazzau, the Vice President, PDP Chairman, or pay N2 million to the registrar to facilitate the admission.
“It was at this point that Ibrahim stepped into the matter and requested Sanusi to appeal to the registrar to accept N1 million, ‘’ he said.
He said Sanusi phoned Ibrahim to confirm the registrar’s purported acceptance of N1 million, adding, “subsequently, the amount was given to Sanusi in three instalments, which he acknowledged’’.
However, when the admission list was released in July and the names of the wards did not appear, Ibrahim demanded for the refund of his money.
“Sanusi started paying back in agreed instalments but defaulted at some point, which prompted Shuaibu to seek NDA’s intervention to recover the balance from him.’’
The registrar said the matter was thoroughly investigated by the NDA, the police and the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee.
“All the panels found Sanusi culpable of the alleged offence and cleared the academy registrar of any complicity,’’ he said.
He said admission into the NDA was not for sale, adding “it is absolutely free and does not require any written note from any quarters.”