Utomi faces backlash over defence of Kila despite academic credentials controversy

Pat Utomi, a Nigerian political economist, has confronted criticism for defending Anthony Kila despite proof questioning the authenticity of the academic {qualifications} and titles the latter claims.

Mr Utomi, in a Facebook post on Saturday, mentioned Mr Kila was a “smart and good man” and described solutions that he had by no means attended college as “spectacularly stupid”.

However, a number of Facebook customers objected, arguing that Mr Utomi’s defence centered on Mr Kila’s intelligence and character quite than addressing the central concern of whether or not he obtained the {qualifications} and academic titles attributed to him.

Ekokoi Solomon, a legislation lecturer on the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, mentioned Mr Utomi was addressing a difficulty totally different from the allegations in opposition to Mr Kila.

“Pat Utomi is saying something entirely different from the allegations against Mr Kila. The issue here is about spurious and fraudulent claims about certification,” Mr Solomon wrote within the remark part.

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

Mr Brown mentioned the 2 circumstances concerned essentially totally different allegations, noting that the controversy surrounding Mr Arday involved dishonesty and failing to attribute mental work, quite than whether or not he possessed the academic {qualifications} he claimed.

“The fact that he talked intelligently and that he is a ‘good man’ is beside the point and totally irrelevant to the discourse,” Mr Brown wrote.

Jolayemi Babajide equally questioned the relevance of Mr Utomi’s submit, asking the way it answered questions on Mr Kila’s academic credentials.

Isaacs Oguntuase mentioned the controversy involved integrity, credibility, and accountability, particularly given Mr Kila’s academic background.

He referred to as on Mr Utomi, as a professor and revered member of the academic neighborhood, to encourage Mr Kila to current verifiable proof of his {qualifications} or acknowledge any misrepresentation or error.

“If we are to preserve public confidence in our academic institutions, we must be willing to demand accountability from everyone, regardless of their eloquence, reputation, or perceived intellectual ability,” Mr Oguntuase wrote.

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

Mr Umoye mentioned Mr Kila ought to present empirical proof of his professorial standing to resolve the dispute.

PREMIUM TIMES investigations

The backlash follows PREMIUM TIMES investigations printed on 3 and 10 October that questioned Mr Kila’s professorial title and the academic {qualifications} he claimed to have obtained from undergraduate to doctoral stage.

The first investigation discovered no proof {that a} recognised academic establishment had awarded Mr Kila a professorship. Mr Kila instructed the newspaper that the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies awarded him the title in 2016, however the investigation discovered no proof that the establishment existed.

In the second report, PREMIUM TIMES documented discrepancies in his claimed academic {qualifications}, with some establishments disputing or failing to confirm the credentials attributed to them. The newspaper mentioned its investigation was persevering with.

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

Mr Utomi mentioned in his submit that he learnt concerning the controversy late and had by no means requested Mr Kila about his certificates or letters of appointment. He mentioned he couldn’t personally vouch for these paperwork.

He additionally recounted going through questions on his skilled historical past and academic standing, arguing that public figures may be subjected to unfair assaults.

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

However, his critics insist that the allegations require documentary verification quite than a defence primarily based on private acquaintance, intelligence or character.

Mr Utomi confronted an analogous backlash on X, with one person urging him to take down the submit.

“I think you should be smarter about this issue. The man himself has said nothing about this. No rebuttals. Nothing. Why don’t you wait for him to do so before you disgrace yourself? The friend of a thief may also be a thief,” mentioned an X user who commented below Mr Utomi’s submit.