Certificate saga: Dino Melaye is ABU graduate, says VC

Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, has cleared beyond all doubts that Senator Dino Melaye graduated from the university in 2000.

The VC, who appeared before the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee, chaired by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, (PDP Imo East), on Monday, said that Melaye graduated from ABU with a third-class degree in Bachelors of Arts (Honours) in Geography.

According to the Vice Chancellor, “Dino was a student of ABU with the name Daniel Jonah Melaye and I affirm very strongly that he is an authentic graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.”

Garba spoke shortly after the committee mandated by the Senate to investigate the alleged certificate forgery against Senator Melaye as raised by the former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, began sitting.

At plenary last week, Ndume, APC, Borno South, urged the Senate to investigate the matter which he said bothers on the integrity of Senate. He arrived the National Assembly at around 12:30pm on the invitation of the Senate committee. He was however excused from the hearing room to allow members of the committee interrogate Senator Melaye on the allegations raised against him.

Senator Melaye while testifying under oath before the committee with some of its members present including Tayo Alasoadura, Mao Ohuabunwa, Matthew Uroghide, Ibrahim Gobir, Akpan Bassey, Peter Nwaoboshi and the Senate Deputy Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, affirmed his stand on being a graduate of ABU.

He went further to tender before the committee, documents backing up his claim. The documents he presented included an admission letter for a Bachelor Degree course of the university, dated September 6, 1994; a copy of his acceptance letter; statement of result certifying him to have graduated from ABU; his Level certificate; NYSC call up letter and discharge certificate.

“And for avoidance of doubt, I served at the Police College in Kaduna in 2001,” he said.

Prof. Garba, who was later readmitted around 1:40 pm to clear doubts on the claims or otherwise, told the committee, “In my honour, I reaffirm the fact that Dino Melaye graduated as Daniel Jonah Melaye in 2000 with a third-class degree in Geography (Bachelors of Art) of the ABU.”

The Committee had on Thursday last week written and summoned the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba to appear before it on Monday to explain his side of the story regarding the alleged certificate scandal leveled against Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West that he did not graduate from the institution.

Ndume, while responding to the development on Monday, said he was satisfied with the Senate probe panel’s handling of the matter and the outcome.

He however explained that raising the matter before the Senate at plenary was not personal. “The decision to investigate the matter wasn’t mine, it was that of the Senate. The issue I read was raised in Punch and an online medium.

I didn’t know it would generate unnecessary issues. I thought that since the matter bothers on the integrity of the entire Senate, I should point it out, and which I did in good faith. It is a simple issue, if they say you have no certificate and you know very well that you have it, then you simply do that and let the matter rest from unnecessary escalation…..and now that the Vice Chancellor has said that Dino Melaye is an authentic graduate of ABU, I think it’s Ok,” Ndume noted.