The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) acknowledges the concerns generated within the Igboho Community in Oyo State over the closure of the Borough College London, Igboho Study Centre.
The institution was shut down following preliminary investigation of a petition that it was running university courses without being duly accredited and licensed by the relevant and appropriate authorities as approved under the law.
ICPC, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), effected the closure on Wednesday, 25th March, 2015 as part of their on-going efforts to sanitize the tertiary education sector in the country.
The College has been running academic programmes since October 2014 and has an enrolment of 200 students. It applied for and got the provisional approval of the Oyo State Ministry of Education in January 2015 to operate as a Study/Continuing Education Centre of Borough College, London.
The college also applied to the Federal Ministry of Education for evaluation and accreditation as a Training Institute to operate in Nigeria in collaboration with Universidad Azteca, Mexico which approval the Ministry granted also in January 2015.
Prof. Ogunleye further proceeded to register Borough College London Limited with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The certificate of incorporation granted by the CAC in February 2015 indicates that Borough College London, Igboho Study Centre was registered and established to develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, post-graduate research and higher degrees.
As at the time the institution was shut down, it was offering six academic courses in Law, Sciences, Accounting/Marketing, Political Science, Business Administration and Communication, without the approval of NUC which is the statutory regulatory body for such operations. It was also claimed that the College was affiliated to one Concentric University.
In 2006, Prof. Ogunleye had applied to set up the Concentric University based at Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State but it was not approved by the NUC. He later secured an allocation of land from Igboho community for the establishment of the hitherto unapproved Concentric University in Bonnie quarters, Igboho.
ICPC has recovered some relevant documents and obtained useful statements from some principal officers of the institution. The proprietor of the College, Prof. James Ogunleye, who resides in London, UK, has sent a written brief to ICPC, promising to physically honour its invitation.
The ICPC appreciates the desire of the Igboho Community to have a higher institution within their reach and their current concern over the closure of the Borough College London, Igboho Study Centre.
ICPC assures the Community that the actions it has taken so far is in the best interest of the Community, the students who have paid N70,000 each, and other stakeholders in order to ensure compliance with existing Laws regulating the establishment of Universities.
As presently constituted all parties should note that the products are not eligible to serve under the NYSC scheme or get employed in any public sector organisation or indeed attend any approved university for post-Igboho studies.
Lastly, it must be further noted that the owners of Borough College London and Concentric University both located at Igboho, have several options open to them.
They can either redress any defaults and thereafter resume operations; or seek legal protection of its rights if it believes that they are executing their activities with the approval of applicable State and Federal legislation. As a last resort they can forcibly reopen the instititution and face criminal charges.
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Folu Olamiti
Resident Consultant ( Media&Event)
