A Lagos High Court has handed down a three-year prison sentence to the head of a private institute for using forged Lagos State University (LASU) documents to defraud a prospective student and his mother.
The Fraudulent Scheme and Court Conviction
Justice Modupe Nico-Clay of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja delivered the judgment on Wednesday, December 18, 2025. She found Samson Orijugo, the provost of Adonai Advanced Institute of Management, guilty on two counts of forgery.
The judge stated that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Orijugo was convicted for creating and issuing a forged LASU notification of result. This document was designed to falsely suggest that his institution, Adonai Institute, was affiliated with the reputable Lagos State University.
"The document was presented as genuine on an LASU letterhead to create the false impression of affiliation," Justice Nico-Clay said. She emphasized that Orijugo, as an administrator, was fully aware that the claim of a link to LASU was completely false.
How the Mother and Son Were Scammed
The case dates back to 2012, when the victim's mother, Patience Okoro, first encountered Orijugo in a commercial bus. He introduced himself as the provost of an institution based in the Benin Republic that was affiliated with LASU.
Despite her initial doubts as a LASU graduate herself, Patience Okoro was persuaded by Orijugo's assurances and his promotional flyers. She eventually enrolled her son, John Chibuzor Okoro, in the Adonai Institute.
In 2015, Orijugo issued the forged LASU notification of result to John. The family made various payments for tuition, medical fees, mobilization, and even convocation. Many of these payments were made without receipts.
The scheme unraveled in 2018 when John attempted to use the documents for a job application and they were discovered to be counterfeit. His mother testified in court that the discovery caused her son significant psychological trauma.
Investigation, Evidence, and Judicial Ruling
During the investigation, Assistant Chief State Counsel Ojei Oziegbe wrote to LASU for official confirmation. The university's response, which was admitted as evidence in court, clearly stated that Adonai Institute had no affiliation, connection, or approval from Lagos State University.
Orijugo, who was arraigned in December 2021 and pleaded not guilty, saw his defense arguments rejected. His legal team had contended that a LASU official should have been called to testify. However, Justice Nico-Clay ruled that the documentary evidence, including the damning correspondence from LASU, was sufficient for conviction.
The judge clarified that the core of the case was not about issuing a fake degree certificate, but the criminal act of forging an official university notification of result with intent to deceive.
A Warning Against Academic Fraud
This judgment sends a strong message about the serious consequences of making false claims regarding institutional affiliation. The court has firmly established that such actions constitute fraud and are punishable under the law.
The three-year sentence underscores the judiciary's commitment to protecting citizens from predatory schemes in the education sector and maintaining the integrity of academic credentials in Nigeria.
