The Founder/Rector of International College of Administration Science and Technology located in Auta Balefi, Nasarawa State, Olaniran Satiregun, has been jailed.
Satiregun was sentenced to seven years in prison for running fake and unapproved courses in the institution.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) secured the conviction after arraigning the convict alongside the institution in 2024 on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, contrary to Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
In the course of the trial, the court heard from ICPC’s Prosecutors, led by Adesina Raheem that the two defendants deceived unsuspecting applicants by offering admissions to study courses that were not accredited by the regulatory body.
While the institution got approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run four courses, it was discovered that the institution, sometimes between 2019 and 2021 offered admission to some applicants into the College to study courses like Nursing, Public Health, and Computer Science, which it didn’t have regulator’s imprimatur for.
One of the counts against the college and it’s Rector read: “That you, International Professional College of Administration Science and Technology Nigeria Ltd and Satiregun Olaniran (M) between 2019 and 2021 in Auta Balefi, Nasarawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court by false pretense, and with intent to defraud did obtain for yourselves the sum of N110,000 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira) from Onmonya Daniel Ogah as school fees and cost of admission letter for being admitted to study Three years professional programme in public health/nursing science and (Bsc) degree conversion with recognized international university (after graduation) and/or professional certificate (CIA,CICN,IDPMN,NIMN,CICMAN, ICAN, NIM,RSA ETC) in International Professional College of Administration Science and Technology Nigeria Ltd, Nasarawa State does not have the approval to run three year programme in Public Health /Nursing Science or award degree in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 Sub Section (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 Sub-Section (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act 2006.”
While delivering a judgment on the case, Justice Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa of the Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa State found the two defendants guilty of all counts leveled against them.
The Judge also sentenced the 2nd defendant (Satiregun) to seven years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Onoja-Alapa further directed that all fees collected from the unsuspecting students who were offered illegal courses in the college be refunded to them and that the institution should limit itself to just four courses approved by the approving authority.
