Two persons have confessed to have been contracted to sit for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examinations on behalf of candidates, exposing a syndicate that specialises in exam malpractice.
One of the suspects, identified as Liveth Felix, admitted she was hired to write the professional exam for a candidate named Dr Sarah Enoch Adi, who is not a registered member of ICAN. Felix disclosed her residence as Grace Junior, Bypass, and further revealed that she works with the Ministry of Finance.
“I don’t know the woman I am writing the exam for. One Joshua contracted me to write the exam for her,” Felix confessed.
However, according to investigations, Dr Sarah Enoch Adi is the Commissioner for Finance in Taraba State.
Her profile obtained in the internet reads, “Dr. Sarah Enoch Adi was born on 9th April, 1973, in Wukari, Taraba State (formerly Gongola State), Nigeria to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Adi. She holds a Doctorate Degree in Accounting from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in 2023. She also obtained a Master of Banking & Finance from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2011. Likewise, she earned a Higher National Diploma and National Diploma in Accountancy from Plateau State Polytechnic, Jos, in 2006 and 2004, respectively. She had a Diploma in Tax Administration from Kaduna State Polytechnic in 1998.
“She is employed with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and rose consistently through the ranks and became Chief Accountant in the year 2022. She has carried out diverse assignments in the course of her accounting career in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. She was appointed the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning of Taraba State in August, 2023 by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, a post she holds until now. Her hobbies are reading and listening to music. Life to her means helping humanity. She is blessed with wonderful children.”
Similarly, another suspect, Abraham Kunini Moses, was caught writing the examination for Martins Emmanuel. Moses, who resides opposite the Catholic Cathedral at Mile 6, confessed that he was fully aware of the criminality of his actions.
“I am not fair to myself knowing that what I am doing is illegal. One Mr Joshua called me and contracted me to do it. He worked with a British school in Jalingo and is not a member of ICAN. I have written four papers for him,” he admitted.
Both persons provided their phone numbers during interrogation. They linked their involvement to the same middleman, identified only as Joshua, who was alleged to be the mastermind coordinating impersonators for ICAN exams in Jalingo.
The development has sparked concerns over the integrity of professional certification processes and raised questions about the infiltration of organised cheating syndicates into Nigeria’s top professional examinations.
Authorities are expected to intensify investigations to dismantle the network and bring all collaborators to justice.
However, Amb. Rikwense Muri, President, STYCOP Peace Project, has made a statement in defence of the allegation against the Commissioner.
According to the statement published in BusinessDay, Dr Sarah Enoch Adi has denied any knowledge of this individual or the ICAN examination in question, adding she did not register for any ICAN exam and has never met the lady in the video.
The statement reads, “To understand the absurdity of the allegation, let us ask a few simple questions:
“1. How can an undergraduate with no ICAN certification be hired to write ICAN exams for someone who never even registered for the exams?
“2. How can someone without any background in accounting be contracted to write a professional chartered accounting exam for a woman who holds an ND, HND, MSc, and PhD in Accounting and Finance?
“3. How can someone with no professional accounting experience be chosen to sit for an exam on behalf of a career accountant who rose to the rank of Chief Accountant in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and who has already held a Certified National Accountant (CNA) of the prestigious ANAN since 2007?
“4. Finally, what would Dr Sarah Enoch Adi – who has reached the peak of her career and already holds higher academic and professional qualifications – gain from pursuing an ICAN certificate that even entry-level accountants acquire?
“These questions expose the illogical and malicious nature of the allegation. The truth is that some corrupt individuals, particularly those threatened by the ongoing sanitisation of the state’s payroll system, are fighting back with slander and deceit. They know that Dr Sarah Enoch Adi’s reforms are cutting off their illicit inflows, and they will go to any extent, even fabricating scandals, to derail her work.
“But lies do not erase the truth. Blackmail cannot halt reform. I therefore call on ICAN and the Nigerian Police Force to swiftly investigate this matter, identify the sponsors behind the video, and make their findings public. Only by exposing and punishing such fabrications can we deter future attempts to slander reform-minded leaders.
“Finally, I urge Dr Sarah Enoch Adi to remain resolute and focused. She is not only carrying out a mandate from Governor Dr Agbu Kefas but also standing as a symbol of integrity, reform, and service to the people of Taraba. No amount of blackmail can silence the truth or turn back the clock on progress.”
