NOUN suspends alumni election over certificate racketeering allegations
By Ebunoluwa Sessou
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has suspended activities of its Alumni Association, including the October 10, 2026 election, following petitions alleging certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities.
The university also suspended the activities of the current Executive Committee of the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA) at the national, state and other levels pending investigation.
The decision was contained in a letter signed by the University Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to the NOUNAA National President, Ifeanyi Obukwelu.
The letter, dated September 2026, said the petitions were considered at the 124th Regular Meeting of the university’s management on September 21.
According to the university, the petitions raised allegations of “the alleged forgery of certificates, certificate racketeering and other matters of serious concern” involving the national president and members of the executive committee.
The petitions also questioned the participation of persons allegedly not graduates of NOUN in the association’s affairs, including their eligibility to vote, contest elections and hold leadership positions.
NOUN stressed that the allegations had not been established and required impartial investigation.
It said the suspension was necessary to protect the integrity and reputation of the university and the alumni association while ensuring that due process was followed.
Consequently, the university ordered the immediate suspension of all processes relating to the October 10 election.
It also resolved to constitute a committee to investigate the allegations, including certificate forgery and racketeering, eligibility of members and other issues raised against the executive committee.
The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to management.
The university further directed Obukwelu, who sits on its Governing Council by virtue of his position as NOUNAA president, to cease participating in council proceedings in that capacity pending determination of the matter.
However, Obukwelu has insisted that the election should proceed.
In a September 30 internal memo, he said the association had responded to the university through its solicitors, demanding fairness, due process and an opportunity for affected officers to respond to the allegations.
He also said the lawyers had argued that NOUNAA, as an Incorporated Trustee under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, as amended, has a distinct legal status.
On the election, Obukwelu said NOUNAA’s position was that the electoral process should continue in accordance with its constitution and the programme announced by the Electoral Committee.
He urged members to remain calm, stressing that allegations should not be treated as guilt before investigation.
The development has therefore created uncertainty over the October 10 election as the university’s suspension remains in place while the association challenges the decision through its legal representatives.
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