The Peoples Democratic Occasion, PDP, in Edo has referred to as on the State Home of Meeting, the Nationwide Universities Fee, NUC, and the Council of Authorized Schooling, CLE, to analyze the alleged controversial Professor of Regulation title conferred on the State Lawyer-Basic and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, SAN.
DAILY POST studies that the celebration mentioned the decision for investigation was necessitated by a petition by the Involved Regulation College students, College of Regulation, Federal College, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State signed by one Okay. Akanbi S.A.L.
A press release by the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie described the petition as embarrassing and disturbing.
Osa-Ogbegie opined that the petitioners alleged that the Edo State Lawyer-Basic and Commissioner for Justice might have been conferred with the title of Professor of Regulation in circumstances that time to an unmistakably to tutorial fraud.
The PDP assertion titled, “Edo at an ethical crossroads: Allegations of educational fraud towards the Lawyer-Basic demand rapid, public and credible investigation,” dated December 8, 2025.
In response to him, this improvement is profoundly troubling. Whereas it’s true that Mr Otaru, SAN, has loved a protracted and commendable authorized profession, such a profession, nevertheless illustrious, can not and should not be used to sidestep allegations of educational impropriety.
“A professorship shouldn’t be an decoration of political status. It’s a hard-earned tutorial rank achieved solely by way of clear scholarly development, together with necessary service as Reader or Affiliate Professor, and backed by verifiable analysis, instructing, examination of postgraduate college students, and recognised mental contributions.
“The petition alleges that none of those important tutorial milestones was attained earlier than the purported appointment of Mr Otaru as Professor of Regulation. It equally raises questions concerning the authenticity and tutorial weight of the PhD mentioned to have been obtained solely just lately from a nondescript establishment.
“These will not be trivial inconsistencies. They’re critical claims that strike on the coronary heart of academia and on the dignity of the chief regulation workplace of our State.
“This isn’t the primary time Edo individuals have been pressured to endure embarrassment from the current administration. What makes this episode much more surprising is that the Governor and alleged his rubber-stamp State Home of Meeting failed woefully to conduct correct background checks earlier than clearing and appointing commissioners, regardless of taking practically a full yr to assemble a cupboard.
“The mental lassitude displayed by each the Governor and the Meeting on this matter is staggering. How a authorities that saved Edo ready for months couldn’t carry out probably the most primary due diligence on nominees is one more obvious testomony to the executive incompetence and indolence which have develop into the hallmark of this authorities.
“That is how Edo State, as soon as revered for its mental heritage, now finds itself reeling from one more avoidable nationwide embarrassment orchestrated by an administration that confuses governance with improvisation and treats due diligence as an inconvenience.
“Edo individuals deserve extra. We deserve fact, readability and accountability, not silence, shortcuts and negligence”, he mentioned.
The celebration, nevertheless, referred to as on Governor Monday Okpebholo to right away tackle the matter publicly and transparently, somewhat than by way of the same old silence and subterfuge that has develop into his alleged most popular technique of avoiding accountability.
It additionally referred to as on the Edo State Home of Meeting to redeem its alleged battered dignity by constituting an impartial, competent and credible investigative committee to probe the professorship declare, the PhD declare, the tutorial trajectory, publications, instructing information and all associated circumstances.
It additional referred to as on the Nationwide Universities Fee, NUC, and the Council of Authorized Schooling, CLE, to conduct exterior verification and publish their findings to Nigerians.
“If the allegations are false, let the Lawyer-Basic be vindicated earlier than the whole nation. If they’re true, then Edo State should not, for a single day extra, tolerate an Lawyer-Basic whose tutorial credentials are the product of manipulation, misrepresentation or undue benefit”, he added.
The celebration posited that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration has embarrassed Edo individuals sufficient, stating that it should not add the desecration of educational credibility to its rising record of failures.
Whereas noting that Edo persons are watching, the celebration threatened that “this time, we is not going to look away”.
“This matter can’t be swept below the carpet. It can’t be managed in whispers. Integrity calls for daylight, and Edo individuals will settle for nothing much less”, Osa-Ogbegie acknowledged.
Nevertheless, reacting, Prof Roland Otaru described the allegations as a deliberate try to smear his rising profile.
Otaru insisted that he was duly appointed as a Professor by the Senate of the Federal College.
“I’m a PhD holder, I’ve two Grasp’s Levels, and I’ve as much as 5 or 6 fellowships. I’ve been SAN, working for the previous 20 years. So what are they speaking about? Possibly someone there engineered it due to my rising profile.
“It is rather humorous. The Senate of the College conferred it on me. I’ve a letter to that impact. And on that day, I used to be not the one one; we had been about 4. It was an approval from the Senate of the College, and I delivered the lecture on that day, December 9, 2024.
“They had been there that day, they had been there once I delivered the lecture. It was an assemblage of all the scholars in that college once I delivered the lecture. There was no monetary inducement, nothing like that, The conferment was based mostly on advantage.
“It’s not a pretend award. I don’t know what they need, however there is no such thing as a trigger for alarm. I’ve the letter of the award”, he acknowledged.
