A Lagos State High Court has handed down a three-year prison sentence to Samson Orijugo, the provost of Adonai Advanced Institute of Management, for the crime of forgery. The court found him guilty of fabricating a Lagos State University (LASU) document to deceive students.
Court Convicts Provost on Two Counts of Forgery
Justice Modupe Nico-Clay of the Ikeja High Court delivered the judgment, finding Samson Orijugo guilty on two separate counts of forgery. The prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction.
The core of the offence involved a forged notification of result. Orijugo created this document on an official LASU letterhead to falsely present his private institution, Adonai Advanced Institute of Management, as being affiliated with the prestigious state university.
How the Forged Document Was Used to Deceive
The fraudulent document was issued to a former student identified as John Chibuzor Okoro. Orijugo had allegedly misrepresented his institute to Okoro and his family, claiming it was an affiliate of LASU. This misrepresentation was backed by the forged result notification.
During the trial, evidence presented to the court confirmed a crucial fact: no affiliation whatsoever existed between Adonai Institute and Lagos State University. The document was entirely fabricated.
Judge Dismisses Defence, Upholds Conviction
In her ruling, Justice Nico-Clay dismissed the arguments put forward by Orijugo's defence team. She clarified that the central offence was forgery, not merely the issuance of a degree certificate. The judge held that Orijugo knowingly presented the fake document as genuine with the intent to deceive the student and his family.
Following the conviction, the judge sentenced Orijugo to three years in prison. The judgment was delivered on December 18, 2025, marking a significant ruling against academic fraud in Lagos.
This case highlights the serious legal consequences for individuals and institutions that engage in forging academic documents and misrepresenting affiliations to exploit students and their families.
