NOUN suspends alumni election over certificate racketeering allegations

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 an investigation. The decision was contained in a letter signed by the University Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to 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 NOUN, 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 people allegedly not graduates of NOUN in the association’s affairs, including their eligibility to vote, contest elections and hold leadership positions. The university stressed that the allegations had not been established and required an 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, NOUN ordered the immediate suspension of all processes relating to the October 10 election. The university also resolved to constitute a committee to investigate the allegations, including certificate forgery and racketeering, the eligibility of members and other issues raised against the executive committee.

The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the university’s management. NOUN further directed Obukwelu, who sits on its Governing Council by virtue of his position as NOUNAA president, to stop participating in council proceedings in that capacity pending the determination of the matter.

However, Obukwelu has maintained 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 the affected officers to respond to the allegations.

He also said the lawyers 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 and stressed that allegations should not be treated as established guilt before an investigation is completed. The development has created uncertainty over the October 10 election as the university’s suspension remains in place while the alumni association challenges the decision through its legal representatives.