Enugu’s ADC Chairman-Elect Under Scrutiny: ICPC Investigation Looms
New challenges have affected the African Democratic Congress in Enugu State as members summoned the factional chairman-elect, Mr. Augustine Akubue, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged impersonation.
The complainants and concerned members of ADC in Enugu, in a document filed through their attorney, T. M. Ozioko, Esq., of the Chambers of M.J. Teryma and Associates Legal Practitioners, Abuja, represented by Chika Idoko, former ADC Senatorial Candidate in the Enugu North senatorial district, requested the commission to probe Akubue for claiming to be a professor without being a legitimate academic staff member of any recognized university within Nigeria or abroad.
The petition, dated April 21, 2026, and carbon copied to the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), was acknowledged and validated by the Office of the Chairman of ICPC on April 23, 2026.
The document was titled, “Request to Investigate Mr. Augustine Akubue for Misrepresentation of Professorial Status, Fabricated Inaugural Lecture, and Effort to Deceive the Public.”
The petition stated in part: “We represent the Concerned Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as instructed by Comrade Chika Idoko (hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Clients’). Our clients have informed us, and we firmly believe them, as follows:
“That one Mr. Augustine Akubue (hereinafter referred to as “the Accused”) has for some time publicly presented himself as “Professor Augustine Akubue.”
“That upon thorough investigation, our clients have confirmed that the accused is not a legitimate academic staff member of any recognized university in Nigeria or abroad. He has never been conferred the title of professor (or any academic rank whatsoever) by the Governing Council of any tertiary institution.
The petitioners contended that the accused utilized the fabricated identity of “professor” and the imaginary “inaugural lecture” as a deliberate strategy to establish himself as a credible authority to obtain political office.
Supporting evidence for the petition includes a suspension notice from the accused’s hometown association of professors; screenshots; audio or video recordings where the accused referred to his “inaugural lecture” as validation of his academic standing.
According to the petitioners, the accused is reasonably suspected of having committed impersonation, in violation of Section 484 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and forgery, against Section 363 of the Criminal Code Act.
As a result, the petitioners requested that the commission investigate the accused’s authentic educational qualifications and employment status and summon and question the accused regarding his professorial claim and the alleged inaugural lecture.
They also urged the commission to coordinate with the NUC to acquire the official verification of the accused’s academic status or lack thereof and to prosecute the accused for impersonation and obtaining under false pretenses, if the evidence supports such actions.
This petition follows shortly after documentary evidence from court disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, charged Akubue, a protégé of former Enugu State Governor Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, before an Enugu Magistrate Court in 2023 on a two-count charge of forgery.
This occurs amid the turmoil the national leadership is experiencing due to the numerous factions.
NAIJATAB reports that former Senate President David Mark, Nafiu Gombe, and others led by the party’s former presidential candidate of ADC, Dumebi Kachikwu, claimed leadership of the opposition party.
It is worth noting that the David Mark-led faction was derecognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court deferred its ruling in the ADC’s leadership dispute between David Mark and Nafiu Gombe.
