May 14, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
The attention of the administration of Njala University has been drawn to a press release from the Anti-Corruption Commission dated 29th April 2021 disclosing that its Scorpion Squad had in a sting operation in Bo arrested four (4) individuals with monies and other documents belonging to students of Njala University.
The release went further to note that these individuals were allegedly involved in collecting monies from students of Njala University and other persons on the pretext that they would get them admitted into Njala University, or assist them to enter for the next semester year.
Whereas, press release from Njala University administration indicated that “while we are encouraged by the progress made so far to arrest certain individuals who are currently helping the ACC with the investigations, we are also concerned about the grave allegations from the ACC that these unscrupulous individuals were collecting monies for lecturers to give underserved grades to students.’’
The release continues: ‘’the administration is calling on the ACC to get to the bottom of these allegations and make their findings public with a view of saving the image of the University. The Public is however informed that senior members of the Administration have been working behind the scenes with the ACC prior to their release, providing valuable information that would help unearth this alleged conspiracy.’’
The release continued that “the administration would want to make it very clear that it has maintained a clear transparent admission processes into the University and members of the public are encouraged to follow such processes rather than allowing themselves to be duped by rogue individuals. Njala University has continued to attract huge numbers into both in its Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs and the building blocks for such has been the credibility attached to its admission and other academic processes.’’
It could be recalled that The ACC’s Scorpion Squad acting on intelligence, carried out a sting operation on Tuesday, 20th April 2021, that led to the arrest of 4 persons who were involved in a scheme orchestrated by one Abdul Karim Turay AKA Abdul Melvin Jalloh, who claims to be the son of Muniru Jalloh, Lecturer and Registrar at NJALA University.
ACC preliminary investigation establishes this claim to be false; as Mr. Brima S. Turay (also a Lecturer at Njala University) not Muniru Jalloh is the biological father of the suspect. Abdul Karim Turay (who students know as “Jalloh” because of his false claims of being the son of the Registrar of the University) was reported to be collecting money from Students of Njala University and other persons on the pretext that he would get them admitted into the University; or assist promote already-admitted students to the next year of their course. He was using one Sulaiman Bangura as liaison between him and the students to collect monies and basically orchestrate the entire deal. Both were lodged and have been coordinating the criminal academic fraud racket called “Binding” (for lecturers to be paid to give undeserved grades to students), at Fears Hotel, 28 Lahai Street, Nikibu Section, off Mattru Road, New London, Bo.
The intelligence further confirmed that students visited them and paid between Five Hundred Thousand Leones (Le 500,000) to Four Million Leones (Le 4,000,000) — depending on the service sought from them.
The Scorpions had already processed a sum of Four Hundred Thousand Leones (Le 400,000) which was handed over to one of the Students at Njala University to use to make payment to Sulaiman Bangura for the said service offered by Abdul Karim Turay, who alleged to be the son of Muniru Jalloh.
Striking with precision, the Scorpion squad were able to identify the processed money as part of the over Five million Leones and various documents of Njala University Students that were found in the possession of the racketeers in their room during the sting operation.
Sulaiman Bangura was arrested and is currently detained helping the ACC with investigation. Four other individuals (including two students and two teachers) were also arrested as part of this criminal syndicate.
The public can recall that the ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., recently delivered a public lecture at Njala University, Torwama Campus, Bo, where he challenged the students to help him clamp down on the many reported acts of examination malpractices and academic fraud at the University; by presenting cogent information on acts of academic fraud, but also warned them against making frivolous claims.
This sting operation, which follows just a few days after the lecture, is to ensure that words are matched by action by the Commissioner and his team.