The University of Calabar, UNICAL, Cross River State, has warned students against an impostor allegedly posing as a professor and demanding money in exchange for promises to influence their examination results.
The university said the individual, who identifies himself as “Prof. Odong” and claims to work with its Information and Communication Technology unit, has been contacting students over purported poor examination results and offering to help improve them for a fee.
In a statement issued by its Public Relations Unit, the university said the suspect allegedly uses telephone number 08144115929 to contact students and request payment, claiming that he has the ability to facilitate changes to their results.
The university said preliminary investigations by its Security Department established that no staff member known as “Prof. Odong” is currently associated with the institution.
Further checks, according to the management, indicated that the individual was operating from Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, despite presenting himself to students as a UNICAL staff member.
The development has prompted the university to caution students and other members of the academic community against engaging with individuals who claim to have the ability to alter examination results or influence academic records outside established university procedures.
UNICAL specifically advised students to disregard calls, text messages and other communications requesting money in connection with examination results or other academic matters.
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It also warned students against disclosing personal information, examination details or other sensitive academic records to anyone claiming to have the authority or capacity to change, improve or facilitate their results.
The university stressed that academic results are subject to established institutional processes and that unauthorised attempts to manipulate them undermine the integrity of the university’s academic system.
Management further said it maintains zero tolerance for unethical practices and would take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone within the university community found culpable of participating in such activities.
Students who have already been contacted by the alleged impostor were urged to report the matter promptly to the appropriate university authorities to enable further investigation and necessary action.
The university’s warning comes amid recurring concerns in Nigeria over individuals exploiting students’ fears about academic performance to solicit money by falsely claiming to have influence over examination results.
UNICAL therefore urged students to rely on official university channels for enquiries or complaints relating to examination results and other academic matters, rather than responding to unsolicited offers of assistance from individuals claiming to have special access or influence.
The management reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students and safeguarding the credibility and integrity of its academic processes.
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