The Commissioner of Finance in Taraba State, Dr. Sarah Enoch Adi, had been allegedly caught in an alleged examination malpractice after a proxy, who was nabbed by supervisor from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), during a professional exam in Jalingo, named her as the candidate she was writing for.
The proxy, who was captured in a video recording that has now gone viral, gave her name as Livet Felix, and further stated that she is a staff of the ministry, said “I am writing the exam for Sarah Adi.”
Under interrogation by the ICAN supervisors, the proxy said she works in the Ministry of Finance.
The examination supervisors, who confirmed that the Finance Commissioner is an ICAN student, also said they had cross-check the information volunteered by the proxy to confirm that the Sarah Enoch Adi she mentioned, was the state’s Finance Commissioner.
Though the proxy denied knowing the Commissioner, she however said that a man named Joshua contracted her on behalf of the commissioner.
The development is already causing ripples among ICAN officials many of who are wondering how Dr. Adi achieved her doctorate.
Already, some groups are calling for a thorough review of her academic qualifications to ascertain their authenticity.
Meanwhile, a group of concerned Nigerians have asked the independent Corrupt Practices Commission, (ICPC) to wade into the matter and ensure thorough investigation as the alleged examination malpractices is a crime that falls within the purview of corrupt practices which it is empowered to investigate and prosecute.
“We, the undersigned, concerned citizens and stakeholders of Nigeria, hereby petition your Commission to investigate and prosecute Dr. Sarah Enoch Adi, the Commissioner for Finance in Taraba State, for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice by hiring an individual from her ministry to write a highly serious professional examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), on her behalf. This act, if proven, constitutes a grave breach of integrity, undermines public trust in leadership, and violates anti-corruption laws,” the group stated in a petition to the Commission.
According to the group, “hiring someone to impersonate in a professional examination is a fraudulent act, which falls under corrupt practices as defined by the ICPC Act, 2000,” it said adding that “this misconduct undermines the principles of meritocracy and fairness in professional certification.”
Cheating in a professional examination, the group said, demonstrates a deliberate disregard for ethical standards adding that “engaging in deceitful practices to obtain a professional ICAN qualification erodes public confidence in Dr. Adi’s ability to discharge her duties honestly.”
