The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has suspended the activities of its Alumni Association, including the October 10, 2026, election, following petitions alleging certificate forgery, certificate racketeering and other irregularities. The university also suspended the activities of the current Executive Committee of the National Open University of Nigeria Alumni Association (NOUNAA) at the national, state and other levels pending an investigation. The decision was contained in a letter signed by the University Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Oladipo Ajayi, and addressed to NOUNAA National President, Ifeanyi Obukwelu. The letter, dated September 2026, said the petitions were considered at the 124th Regular Meeting of the university’s management on September 21. According to NOUN, the petitions raised allegations of “the alleged forgery of certificates, certificate racketeering and other matters of serious concern” involving the national president and members of the executive committee. The petitions also questioned the participation of individuals allegedly not graduates of NOUN in the association’s affairs, including their eligibility to vote, contest elections and hold leadership positions. However, the university stressed that the allegations had not been established and required an impartial investigation. NOUN said the suspension was necessary to protect the integrity and reputation of both the university and the alumni association while ensuring that due process was followed. Consequently, the university ordered the immediate suspension of all processes relating to the October 10 election. It also resolved to constitute a committee to investigate the allegations, including certificate forgery and racketeering, the eligibility of members and other issues raised against the executive committee. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the university’s management. NOUN further directed Obukwelu, who sits on the university’s Governing Council by virtue of his position as NOUNAA president, to stop participating in council proceedings in that capacity pending the determination of the matter. Obukwelu, however, has maintained that the election should proceed. In a September 30 internal memo, he said the association had responded to the university through its solicitors, demanding fairness, due process and an opportunity for the affected officers to respond to the allegations.
He also said the association’s lawyers argued that NOUNAA, as an Incorporated Trustee under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, as amended, has a distinct legal identity.
On the election, Obukwelu said NOUNAA’s position was that the electoral process should proceed in accordance with the association’s constitution and the timetable announced by the Electoral Committee.
He urged members to remain calm, stressing that the allegations should not be treated as established facts or guilt until the investigation is concluded.
The development has cast uncertainty over the October 10 election, with the university’s suspension still in effect as the alumni association challenges the decision through its legal representatives.
