Group Calls for UNIABUJA Law Professor’s Removal Over Alleged Fake Credentials

A civil society organization, the Coalition to Save Education in Nigeria (COSEN), has accused the University of Abuja authorities of a “deliberate cover-up and failure to implement the decision of the university’s Visitor” regarding a controversial Law professor who allegedly does not possess the Nigerian Law School certificate—a fundamental requirement for practicing as a lawyer and teaching Law.  

In a statement signed by its Director of Operations, Kamsi Ezenwa, COSEN claimed that Kassim Musa Waziri allegedly failed the Call-to-Bar examination multiple times and is therefore unqualified to teach Law. “Even based on the time-honored maxim that one can’t give what one doesn’t have,” the statement added.

The group referenced the 1999 Visitation Panel report, which questioned Waziri’s employment as a lecturer without a Law School certificate. As a result, he was suspended in 2000 following a staff audit.

The suspension was later lifted after he presented a Master’s degree from the University of Jos. However, according to COSEN, “Waziri has not gone back to the Nigerian Law School to fulfill the obligatory certification as a legal practitioner and law teacher.”

COSEN urged the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, “not to follow the path of her predecessors, who, for inexcusable reasons, which clearly border on cover-up and gross dereliction of duty, failed to do the right thing. This time, the University of Abuja must ensure that the White Paper of the 1999 Presidential Visitation Panel’s Report is thoroughly and faithfully implemented in this matter.”

Independent investigations revealed that the professor is a well-known figure in the university. A fellow professor, speaking anonymously, stated: “This issue of him not having a Law School certification is an open secret in this university. Most long-serving staff have known about it for a long time. It became even more obvious when he served as acting Dean of Law for two years but could not attend a single meeting of the Council of Legal Education. Instead, another professor had to represent the university and faculty. What is surprising is the prolonged cover-up and silence of the school authorities.”

It remains to be seen what action the university will take if COSEN follows through with its plan to submit a formal petition.