The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has defended its decision to shut down Borough College London study centre in Igboho, Oyo State, saying the school ran degree programmes without the approval of the National Universities Commission, NUC.

In a statement signed by Folu Olamiti, the commission’s resident media consultant, the ICPC said that the college, with an enrolment of 200 students, ran academic programmes since October 2014 even before it got provisional permission to operate as a study centre or continuing education centre of Borough College, London.

“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,” the ICPC stated.

“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,” the statement further explained.

Students had paid N70, 000 for degree programmes in Law, Sciences, Accounting/Marketing, Political Science, Business Administration and Communication, and despite its incorporation with Corporate Affairs Commission, the ICPC said that the college had to be shut because only NUC has the statutory obligation to give approval for these courses.

The consequence for graduates of the college if it does not secure the approval of the NUC, the ICPC said, could result from lack of recognition by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to inability of graduates to secure employment.

“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,” the anti-graft agency said.

According to the ICPC, there are options open to the proprietor of the college, James Ogunleye, a professor, if the school is to be reopened.

“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 institution and face criminal charges,” the commission stated