Bauchi teacher dismissed for allegedly forging certificates after 23 years in service

The Bauchi State Teachers Service Commission has dismissed a schoolteacher, Habibullah Umar, after confirming he forged two university degree certificates and impersonated a qualified teacher for over two decades.

The Commission’s Information Officer, Dahiru Adamu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the action followed recommendations of an investigation committee that found clear evidence of forgery and impersonation.

According to the statement, Umar, who had worked for 23 years, submitted two fake degree certificates purportedly from the University of Jos. The fraud was uncovered after inconsistencies were detected in his credentials.

“After verifying with the University of Jos, it was confirmed that the certificates did not originate from the institution. The investigation revealed that Habibullah’s highest qualification remains a NABTEB certificate,” the statement said.

The statement added that a disclaimer on the dismissed teacher will be published in a national newspaper, while examination bodies including WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB will be notified, as he had served as an examiner for several years.

In a separate disciplinary action, the Commission sanctioned an officer of the Ministry of Education, Dahiru Abdullahi, for absconding from duty for a full year without official permission.

He was demoted by one grade level and ordered to refund all salaries received during his absence.

The Commission said Abdullahi’s conduct violated Rule 03302 of the Bauchi State Public Service Regulations (Revised Edition), which prescribes dismissal for prolonged absence without leave. However, it noted that leniency was exercised since it was his first recorded misconduct.