A rights group, HEDA, has petitioned the ICPC to compel ex-FIIRO boss Chima Igwe to return the salaries earned while he worked with a forged PhD certificate.

Mr Igwe was demoted in 2020 for certificate fraud following an accusation that he falsified his PhD certificate to earn salaries and gain several promotions at FIIRO for years.

He did not earn a PhD until reportedly in 2020.

In a statement made available to Peoples Gazette, HEDA threatened to take legal action should the anti-graft agency fail to prosecute the EX- FIIRO boss.

It argued that Mr Igwe’s actions contravened the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act and Section 105 of the Criminal Code Act.

“We request the ICPC to prosecute Mr Chima Igwe for presenting an attestation letter in place of a PhD certificate upon which he worked and gained several promotions in the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos state and return into the government’s coffer all salaries and allowances paid to Mr Chima Igwe within the period he worked without having the requisite educational qualification (PhD),” HEDA explained.

HEDA had, in a petition dated June 7, 2021, asked the ICPC to prosecute Mr Igwe and ensure that he returns to the government’s purse all earnings linked to the forged certificate.