Utomi faces backlash over defence of Kila despite academic credentials controversy

Pat Utomi, a Nigerian political economist, has confronted grievance for protecting Anthony Kila regardless of proof wondering the authenticity of the instructional {qualifications} and titles the latter claims.

Mr Utomi, in a Facebook post on Saturday, stated Mr Kila was once a “good and just right guy” and described tips that he had by no means attended college as “spectacularly silly”.

Then again, a number of Fb customers objected, arguing that Mr Utomi’s defence involved in Mr Kila’s intelligence and personality relatively than addressing the central factor of whether or not he got the {qualifications} and educational titles attributed to him.

Ekokoi Solomon, a regulation lecturer on the College of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, stated Mr Utomi was once addressing a subject other from the allegations towards Mr Kila.

“Pat Utomi is pronouncing one thing fully other from the allegations towards Mr Kila. The problem right here is set spurious and fraudulent claims about certification,” Mr Solomon wrote within the remark segment.

Babajide Brown additionally challenged Mr Utomi’s comparability of the talk surrounding Mr Kila with the general public scrutiny of Jason Arday, the British sociologist who was a professor on the College of Cambridge, accused of plagiarism in July 2026, and was once later discovered lifeless at his house in London on 14 August 2026.

Mr Brown stated the 2 circumstances concerned essentially other allegations, noting that the talk surrounding Mr Arday involved dishonesty and failing to characteristic highbrow paintings, relatively than whether or not he possessed the instructional {qualifications} he claimed.

“The truth that he talked intelligently and that he’s a ‘just right guy’ is inappropriate and completely beside the point to the discourse,” Mr Brown wrote.

Jolayemi Babajide in a similar way puzzled the relevance of Mr Utomi’s put up, asking the way it replied questions on Mr Kila’s instructional credentials.

Isaacs Oguntuase stated the talk involved integrity, credibility, and responsibility, particularly given Mr Kila’s instructional background.

He referred to as on Mr Utomi, as a professor and revered member of the instructional group, to inspire Mr Kila to offer verifiable proof of his {qualifications} or recognize any misrepresentation or error.

“If we’re to keep public self assurance in our educational establishments, we should be prepared to call for responsibility from everybody, irrespective of their eloquence, recognition, or perceived highbrow skill,” Mr Oguntuase wrote.

Kukei Umoye additionally criticised what he described as double requirements, referencing the talk over President Bola Tinubu’s instructional certificates.

Mr Umoye stated Mr Kila will have to supply empirical proof of his professorial standing to get to the bottom of the dispute.

PREMIUM TIMES investigations

The backlash follows PREMIUM TIMES investigations printed on 3 and 10 October that puzzled Mr Kila’s professorial name and the instructional {qualifications} he claimed to have got from undergraduate to doctoral stage.

The primary investigation discovered no proof {that a} recognised instructional establishment had awarded Mr Kila a professorship. Mr Kila advised the newspaper that the Eu Centre for Complex and Skilled Research awarded him the name in 2016, however the investigation discovered no proof that the establishment existed.

Within the second report, PREMIUM TIMES documented discrepancies in his claimed instructional {qualifications}, with some establishments disputing or failing to ensure the credentials attributed to them. The newspaper stated its investigation was once proceeding.

Mr Kila has maintained that he’s a professor and stands by way of his instructional {and professional} credentials.

Mr Utomi stated in his put up that he learnt concerning the controversy past due and had by no means requested Mr Kila about his certificate or letters of appointment. He stated he may no longer for my part vouch for the ones paperwork.

He additionally recounted going through questions on his skilled historical past and educational status, arguing that public figures will also be subjected to unfair assaults.

Drawing a parallel with Mr Arday, Mr Utomi criticised what he described as on-line bullying and puzzled the motives of the ones difficult Mr Kila.

Then again, his critics insist that the allegations require documentary verification relatively than a defence in response to private acquaintance, intelligence or personality.

Mr Utomi confronted a equivalent backlash on X, with one person urging him to take down the put up.

“I feel you will have to be smarter about this factor. The person himself has stated not anything about this. No rebuttals. Not anything. Why don’t you look ahead to him to take action ahead of you shame your self? The pal of a thief will also be a thief,” stated an X user who commented below Mr Utomi’s put up.