THE management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has suspended the activities of its Alumni Association (NOUNAA), including the October 10, 2026 election, following petitions alleging certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities involving the association’s leadership.
The university also ordered an investigation into the allegations against the National President of the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA), Ifeanyi Obukwelu, and members of the national executive committee.
The decision was contained in a letter sighted by News Point Nigeria signed by the University Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to Obukwelu.
The letter, which was sighted on Saturday, has reference number NOUN/REG/NAA/303/VOL.11/198, and said the petitions were considered at the 124th Regular Meeting of the university management held on September 21, 2026.
According to the letter, the petitions contained allegations “relating, among others, to alleged forgery of certificates, certificate racketeering and other matters of serious concern” concerning the conduct and activities of the NOUNAA president and members of the executive committee.
The petitions also raised concerns over the alleged inclusion and participation of persons who were not graduates of the university in the affairs of the alumni association.
They further alleged irregularities in the electoral process, including the eligibility of persons to vote, contest elections and occupy leadership positions in the association.
The university, however, stressed that the allegations had not been established.
“Management noted that these are allegations which require proper and impartial examination and determination,” the letter stated.
It said the university, as the custodian of its institutional integrity and reputation, had a responsibility to take appropriate administrative measures when matters of such gravity were brought to its attention.
The management said the measures were intended to safeguard the integrity of the university and the alumni association while ensuring that the allegations were subjected to due process and “are not treated as established facts before the conclusion of the investigation.”
The university noted that the issues raised in the petitions made it necessary to suspend the electoral process pending the outcome of the proposed investigation.
Consequently, management directed that all processes relating to the election be suspended with immediate effect pending further directives.
It also suspended the activities of the current executive committee across the national body, state chapters and all other arms of the association pending the outcome of the investigation.
The university further directed that a committee be constituted to investigate the allegations against the NOUNAA president and members of the executive committee.
The committee is to examine the allegations relating to certificate forgery and racketeering, the eligibility and participation of persons who were not graduates of the university in the affairs of the association, as well as other matters raised against the executive committee.
It is expected to make recommendations to the university management.
The university also directed Obukwelu, who serves on its Governing Council by virtue of his position as NOUNAA national president, to cease participating in council proceedings in that capacity pending the determination of the matter.
However, Obukwelu has kicked against the suspension of the electoral process, insisting that the October 10 election will proceed.
In an internal memo dated September 30, 2026, with reference number NOUNAA/NEC/23/T/005 and sighted by our correspondent, the NOUNAA president said the association had responded to the university through its solicitors.
He said NOUNAA was not opposed to transparency, accountability or lawful investigation but insisted that affected persons should be given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.
“Our position is simple and principled: NOUNAA is not afraid of transparency, accountability or lawful investigation. What we ask for is fairness, due process and the opportunity for every affected person to be heard,” the memo stated.
According to the memo, the association’s solicitors argued that the university’s decision appeared to have been reached without giving the affected officers or the association a fair and reasonable opportunity to be heard.
The lawyers also maintained that NOUNAA was an independently incorporated association whose internal governance and elections were regulated by its constitution and applicable laws.
They requested that the petitions and accompanying materials be made available to the affected officers and that they be given an opportunity to respond before any definitive action was taken.
On the October 10 election, Obukwelu said the association’s position was that the electoral process should proceed in accordance with its constitution and the programme announced by the duly constituted Electoral Committee while the issues raised with the university were being addressed through legal and institutional channels.
“Our position, without prejudice to whatever Electoral Committee may decide based on their preparedness, is that the electoral process shall proceed in accordance with the Association’s Constitution and the programme announced by the duly constituted Electoral Committee,” he stated.
Obukwelu also urged members and delegates not to allow political differences or electoral ambitions to divide the association.
He maintained that no allegation should be treated as guilt before investigation and that no individual should be denied the opportunity to present his or her case.
The president urged members and delegates to remain calm, united and law-abiding, saying the association would continue to cooperate with legitimate processes aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and fair hearing.
He maintained that the association’s activities and elections would proceed lawfully and encouraged eligible delegates to participate peacefully and vote according to their conscience.